From Shared Values to Lasting Impact: A Journey of Excellence and Leadership at Tarpon Springs High School

It began as a chance meeting nearly thirty years ago at a Drum Corps International championship, which set the stage for an enduring partnership. He was there composing music; she was competing with a color guard group. A year later, Kevin and Jeannine Ford were married, beginning a lifelong journey of purpose together.

Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory

For more than two decades, the Fords have paved a path toward excellence, leadership, and service for students at the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts – an award-winning magnet program in Pinellas County Schools. Kevin is the founder and director of the leadership conservatory, while Jeannine serves as the director of Color Guards.

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“We started out with just eight kids at the first rehearsal, 40 kids total in the entire program,” Kevin recalls. “Even with the small group, we knew we had a special community. Parents wanted better for their kids, and that touched our hearts.”

To date, the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory has earned a storied roster of accolades, including winning the 2023 Bands of America Regional Championship as well as an invitation to perform in the 2022 Macy’s Day Parade. The conservatory also hosts the annual Outdoor Music Festival in Tarpon Springs. Now in its 28th year, this high school marching band competition, scheduled for Oct. 19 this year, features live performances from schools across Tampa Bay and Florida. Learn more at tarponspringsband.com.

Although music and competitive performance are central to the program, the Fords emphasize that the conservatory’s true mission is to help students become the best versions of themselves. They aim to provide opportunities, experiences and lessons that students can carry with them into their lives beyond high school.

“We value the individual first,” Kevin says. “We tell students to try to win the day. Are you better than you were yesterday? Focusing on what you can control will lead to becoming a better performer as a result of those actionable habits.”

Acts of service are a core expectation for conservatory members. Students not only contribute through their performances but also take on leadership roles and engage in volunteer and mentor activities, including events like the Outdoor Music Festival. The Fords also acknowledge the vital role of conservatory staff, parents and the community in sustaining and supporting the program over the years.

Today, the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory has expanded to include several hundred members and boasts a variety of music and performance ensembles. Among its alumni are the Fords’ two daughters, Brooklyn and Madison. At its heart, the program instills values that build resilience, offering a counterbalance to a culture increasingly focused on instant gratification.

“We teach that success takes time,” Jeannine says. “It’s important to be there during the most challenging times, telling them they can do this. One day, it will click if you keep at it every day. You could be five minutes away from the success you’re searching for. We celebrate the wins, however small, because that’s growth.”

For Kevin and Jeannine Ford, their journey has come full circle as the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory’s presence continues to expand, with the Ford’s impact firmly established within their beloved local community.

“These kids are an extension of our family. We now have parents who were in our bands, whose children are now in the program,” Jeannine says. “We remember celebrating the birth of their child, and now we’re blessed with more than one generation carrying on that legacy.”

“I feel blessed as a husband to be able to do this with my wife,” Kevin added. “As a couple, to find something you’re passionate about and to be able to pursue that together, is truly special.”

Originally published in the October 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.