Our Teachers

High School Bands Teacher

Mr. Bickel started his teaching career in 1992 at Vandercook Lake, where he taught all bands in grades 5-12 (marching, concert, and MS and HS jazz), 9th and 10th Grade English, and restarted both the choir and jazz band programs at Vandercook Lake until 2002.

He has taught band here with Kellie McInchak since 2002, when they succeeded the Hamptons (Mr. Bickel's band directors at Western). Mr. Bickel teaches 6th Grade Beginning Brass, HS Concert Band, HS Symphonic Band, the WHS Marching Band, pit orchestra for musicals, and two HS Jazz Bands. He also assists the 7th Grade Band and 8th Grade Band.

Mr. Bickel is also an active trumpet performer in the Jackson French Quarter Dixieland Band (run by father Philip Bickel), piano and vocal performer as a dueling piano player for Piano Wars!, and also performs frequently with his brother Dan, the Michigan Center band director, in an act called "The Bickel Brothers".

He loves teaching because he loves to inspire students to perform and continue through and after high school.

He is married to Bethany Bickel, Western Middle School's choir director, and they have a daughter, Julia.

Paul Bickel

Kellie McInchak

Middle School Bands Teacher

Kellie McInchak is a Band Director at Western Middle School where she teaches 6th Grade Woodwinds & Percussion, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, 8th Grade Jazz Band, and assists with the Western High School Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band.

Mrs. McInchak earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan, graduating with high honors. She earned her Master of Music degree in Conducting from the American Band College at Southern Oregon Univeristy graduating with a g.p.a. of 3.96.

Mrs. McInchak lives in Dexter, Michigan, with her husband Joe, band director at Tecumseh Middle School, and sons Andrew and Leo. Leo is the newest addition to the family, arriving April 7th, 2011.