Brian Ketcham graduated from The University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He has taught in Keller ISD since 2005 and theatre specifically since 2015. He also holds the 2018-19 Teacher of the Year Award for Keller High School, Keller ISD, and Region 11. In 2026, Coach Ketcham received the Betty Lynn Buckley Award for Educator of the Year.
Coach Ketcham resides in Fort Worth with his wife Trista and son Ben. In addition to theatre, his passions include nachos, baseball, and everything Fort Worth. He also enjoys making neapolitan pizza, riding bikes, and dining at Joe T. Garcia’s.
Mandi Tapia Pace graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts. She received a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Directing from Texas State University. In 2018, she joined the board of Texas Thespians where she is proud to lead as the Professional Development Chair, working hand in hand with educators around Texas and beyond.
Mrs. Tapia joined Keller ISD and Keller High School in 2019; in 2025, she led Keller Theatre to a 6A state championship title with the one act play, Silent Sky, and received the Betty Lynn Buckley Award for Educator of the Year. In 2026, Ms. Tapia received the Texas Thespian Trailblazer Award.
She has has three children, Ella, Crosby, and Quentin–all of whom have been a part of her theatre projects.
Chantz Cochran joined Keller ISD in 2023 and Keller High School in 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with an emphasis on Performance from Lubbock Christian University and a specialty in stage makeup. He has also been involved in multiple productions for various community theatres, taking on the roles of actor, technician, stage manager, and assistant technical director.
Head Director of Choirs
JENNIE CRAWFORD
jennifer.crawford@kellerisd.net
Mrs. Crawford holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Education Administration. Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
In 2007, Jennie was honored as the first recipient of the Texas Choral Directors Association Distinguished Young Director Award. She has served as the Region 5 and Region 31 Middle School Vocal Coordinator, on the Texas PML Committee from 2016-2020, including serving as committee chair in 2019-2020, and on the Texas UIL Sight-Reading Committee from 2021-2022. She is an active adjudicator and frequently serves as a guest clinician and conductor for Region and Honor Choirs throughout Texas.
Outside of school, Jennie enjoys being a choir, band, and softball mom. She lives in North Richland Hills with her husband, Chad, their children, Hagen and Berkeley, and their dog, Stella.
Ms. Kopp is a 2023 graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Music Education with a minor in Conducting and served as President of the National Association for Music Education collegiate chapter. Ms. Kopp was recognized as an 2023 Outstanding Future Music Educator by the Indiana Music Educators Association. She completed her student teaching at Shelbyville High School with the SHS choir and band programs. A native of Austin, she is thrilled to return to Texas and joining the Keller Choir family!
Prior to joining Keller HS as the Assistant Choir Director in 2026, she was the Director of Choirs at Columbus North HS in southern Indiana, where she taught concert choirs, vocal jazz, competitive show choirs, and vocal directed the musical. The choir program also received the Indiana State School Music Association’s All-Music Award for program-wide excellence. Ms. Kopp was recognized as the 2025-26 Emerging Teacher of the Year by the Columbus North High School Bull Dog Alumni Association.
Frequent Guest Choreographer
SAMANTHA HOWARD
Samantha Howard is a Dallas-based choreographer and dance instructor who is credited with choreographing more than 15 middle school, high school, and community theatre productions, including Keller Theatre’s production of Shrek. Beginning her teaching journey in 2016, she uses her dance experience of more than 20 years to inspire the next and current generations of performers.
When she’s not working, Ms. Howard can be found hanging out with her friends, loving on her cat, Felix, or continuing her dance knowledge by taking classes! She is so grateful to the Keller Theatre program for the opportunities she has been given and can’t wait to continue being a part of this wonderful community!