Gerry Ricke has been the Director of Bands at Eustis Middle since 1994. He was born and raised in the mid-west where he graduated from Yankton High School, in Yankton South Dakota in 1976. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree from South Dakota State University in 1980. During his college years he had the opportunity to play with such jazz greats as Louie Bellson and Dizzy Gillespie.

 Mr. Ricke taught instrumental music grades five through twelve for eight years in South Dakota, where he held teaching and Music Administrative positions. He was an active member of MENC and the South Dakota Bandmasters Association as well as South Dakota Education Association and President and Head Negotiator for local SDEA members.

 Mr. Ricke spent six years in Iowa holding a high school band position at Rockwell City Iowa. While in Iowa he played with the Karl King Municipal Band located in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  His concert and jazz bands were consistently rated superior during his six years in Iowa. He maintained his MENC membership as well as being a member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Iowa State Education Association.

 Mr. Ricke is currently in his 17^th year of teaching at Eustis Middle School in Eustis, Florida. As Director of Bands at Eustis Middle School, Mr. Ricke is responsible for a variety of musical ensembles. He directs the Mustang Steel Panology Steel Drum ensemble, two Beginner Concert Bands, Intermediate Concert Band, Advanced Concert Band, the combined 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade Marching Mustangs, Mustang Jazz II, and the award winning Eustis Mustang Thundering Herd Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Ricke assists students with Music Performance Assessment preparation for solo/ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and concert band as well as State, District, and County Honor Band preparation.

 Mr. Ricke is currently a member of the Florida School Music Association, Florida Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, Lake County Education Association, and the Florida Bandmasters Association.

 Mr. Ricke was elected teacher of the year in 1998 for Eustis Middle. He also held the position of Florida Bandmasters Association District 19 Chairman for the 2006-2008 terms.

 He has directed the church choir and hand bell at their local church. He is an active member of the Loyal Order of Moose where he currently holds the position of Florida Bermuda Moose Association Special Olympics Chairman.  In the last two years under his chairmanship the FBMA has raised over $69,600 for Special Olympics.

 Mr. Ricke is married to Roxanne, has two daughters and four grandchildren.