Mr. Gabriel Batiz

Director of Bands

Mr. Batiz has been on the faculty of Wayne Valley High School since the fall of 2011.  He is the director of the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Band while also serving as the coordinator/lead teacher of the Instrumental Instruction and Music Theory program.  Mr. Batiz also serves as an advisor for Wayne Valley's Tri-M Music Honors Society and Co-President of the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association.
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​​Mr. Batiz holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from William Paterson University where he studied with Dr. J. Craig Davis, Dr. Carol Frierson-Campbell, Dr. Myron Leshowitz, and Mr. Gary Capetandes.

Under his the direction, the ensembles at Wayne Valley continuously earn state and national recognition.  Recent accolades include 2014 USBands Group IIA National Champions, 2020 USBands Division I State & Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions, 2021 NJMBDA Class A State Champions, 2019-2022 NJAJE State Finalist, and most recently earning an invitation to the 2022 New Jersey Concert Band State Gala.  The Wayne Valley band program has also given performance tours in Boston, Chicago, Virginia, Washington D.C., New York City, and Florida.

Outside of Wayne Valley, Mr. Batiz serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and freelance musician in the metropolitan area while also maintaining a private lesson studio.  He is also an active member in the North Jersey Area Band, North Jersey School Music Association, New Jersey Music Educators Association, New Jersey Association for Jazz Education, New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Education.

 In 2017, Mr. Batiz was selected as the New Jersey "Governor's Teacher of Year" at Wayne Valley High School, and was a finalist for the "Passaic County Teacher of the Year." 

Mr. Batiz resides in Rockaway, NJ with his wife Christina and twin sons, Derek and Nolan. 

Mr. Scott Byers

Associate Director of Bands

Prior to Mr. Byers’ appointment as Wayne Valley's Associate Director of Bands, he served as the band director at Merrick Avenue Middle School on Long Island, where he taught 7th-grade band, 8th-grade band, and Jazz Band.  Currently he co-directs the Wayne Valley Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band and serves as an instructor in the Instrumental Instruction program.  He is also the lead teacher for Wayne Valley's music appreciation/history course Music Perspectives​.

Mr. Byers holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Ithaca College​. He is currently pursuing a masters degree in Wind Conducting at Montclair State University, where he serves as an assistant graduate conductor to the university bands and studies with Dr. Thomas McCauley.  Mr. Byers was also recently selected as a wind conducting fellow at the Atlanta Summer Conducting Institute.

As an active performer, Mr. Byers in recent years has performed with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, Long Island Wind Ensemble, and other musical ensembles while maintaining a private music studio.

​Mr. Byers resides in Jersey City, NJ with his significant other and their three cats.

Other Faculty/Staff:

Mr. Pedro Morales - Assistant Marching Band Director
​Mr. David Iacoviello-Marching Band Brass/Visual Technician
Mr. Alex Douthat - Marching Band Battery/Visual Technician
Ms. Angie Cirovic - Marching Band Woodwind/Visual Technician
Ms. Emily Gaul - Marching Band Woodwind/Visual Technician
Ms. Crystal Yoon - Marching Band Front Ensemble Technician
Ms. Paige MacKay - Color Guard Director
​Ms. Lisa Russoniello - WVHS Music Faculty