Joseph N. Flores

Joseph Flores is the Director of Fine Arts for Teaching and Learning for Las Cruces
Public Schools. Mr. Flores earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Master of
Music in Instrumental Conducting from New Mexico State University. Prior to
overseeing Fine Arts curriculum and activities for LCPS, he taught middle school and
high school band programs in Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas since 1997.
During his time in the classroom, Mr. Flores’ ensembles consistently earned superior
ratings and were recognized at local, state, and national levels for musical excellence
including: multiple state championships in band and symphony orchestra, multiple
competition finalist for Bands of America and Winter Guard International regional
events, New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) Honor Jazz Band and
Honor Symphony Orchestra, and his music department’s program earned recognition as a
Grammy Foundation Signature School. Mr. Flores was nominated for the New Mexico
Golden Apple Award in 2016. He was selected as the 2017 NMMEA Music Educator of
the Year and then later received the 2019 NMMEA Rollie Heltman Distinguished Service
Award. He was recently selected to receive the 2023 Doña Ana Arts Council “Papen
Family Award” for demonstrating extraordinary commitment to the arts through service
and leadership and was most recently selected as a 2024 NMMEA Hall of Fame inductee.
During his tenure as Director of Fine Arts, Las Cruces Public Schools has annually been
recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National
Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and was also selected to receive the 2022 and
2025 NMMEA Award of Distinction.
In addition to his work, Mr. Flores remains active as a guest speaker, guest conductor,
concert band & marching arts adjudicator and clinician, and he regularly presents
professional development sessions at educator conferences regionally and across the
country. Mr. Flores has served as President of the NMMEA Southwest District and has
also served at the state level as Band Division Vice-President and President for the entire
NMMEA organization. Additionally, he is a member and former President of the New
Mexico Chapter of the International Band Master’s Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu.
In his free time, Mr. Flores enjoys spending quality time with his husband, Daniel, and
their dog, family and friends as well as traveling with focus centered on art, history,
culture, and culinary experiences.