My name is Kenneth "DJ" Rhodes Jr, and I serve as the Percussion Director at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. I’ve been teaching for over 13 years, with the past 5 years dedicated to leading the percussion program at CHS — the same program I proudly marched with as a student from 2006 to 2010. 

Since stepping into the director role, I’ve worked to build a culture of excellence and growth. Under my direction, our program has achieved national recognition in the WGI circuit — earning Open Class Semifinalist status in 2018, Open Class Finalist in 2019, and most recently, the A Class Silver Medal in 2025. 

My primary focus is battery percussion, and my marching experience includes performing with Solace Independent in 2011 and Phantom Regiment in 2012. Outside of teaching, I’m an active gigging drummer, performing regularly on drum set with multiple local bands, as well as working as a studio fill-in and house band musician. This balance of education and live performance keeps my perspective fresh and my teaching grounded in real-world application. 

In addition to my work at CHS, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Guard Percussion Circuit (GCGPC) as the Percussion Representative. In this role, I launched the “Percussion Round Table” — a space where directors, techs, and educators come together to exchange ideas, grow as professionals, and support the development of ensembles across our circuit.