Midway High School
Mr. Caleb Overstreet is in his 7th year at Midway High School, 12th year overall in the district, and first year as head director. He has made stops in his teaching career at almost every level - Woodway Elementary for 1 year, Woodgate Intermediate for 5 years, and assisting both MMS and RVMS regularly each week. He is proud to continue the legacy of greatness in Midway Choirs!
Mr. Overstreet is a graduate of Midway High School in 2009 and Baylor University with a Bachelors of Music Education in 2013. He is also a product of the great success of Midway Choirs. Outside of the classroom, he is a passionate baseball umpire and basketball referee at levels from High School to NCAA DII. He is married to his wife, Megan, and have 3 children Ava, Skylar, and Elizabeth. Email: [email protected] |
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Midway Middle School
Mrs. Megan Gackle is in her eighth year of teaching at the middle school and high school level. She has returned to Waco after teaching and working on her doctorate of musical arts at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Mrs. Gackle holds degrees from Baylor University (M.M and B.M.E) and received the first part of her undergraduate education from Florida State University. She will graduate with her doctoral degree in the spring of 2026.
In her time as a conductor, Mrs. Gackle has taught across the state in Houston and the DFW Metroplex. She has consistently led her choirs to sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sight Reading contests. She has also maintained a private voice studio for the last 10 years and has had multiple students make region and all state choirs. For the last two years, she has maintained a full voice studio at the University of North Texas as a full-time teaching fellow. While at Baylor, she also maintained a full voice studio as a teacher of record during her pursuit of her master’s degree. Praised for her florid vocal agility and range, award-winning American mezzo-soprano Megan Gackle is quickly building her reputation as a versatile vocal artist. Mrs. Gackle’s blossoming career showcases versatility, excellence and adaptability in a variety of vocal genres including opera, jazz, musical theater and concert works. Mrs. Gackle has been featured in a variety of operatic roles in a number of operas including the title role of Die Mutter in Engelbert Humperdink’s Hansel und Gretel, Eunice in Andre Previn’s Streetcar named Desire, Oreste in Handel’s Oreste, Queen Hera in the premiere of All Wounds Bleed with the Chicago Fringe Opera and Latitude 49, Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Dorabella in Mozart’s comic opera, Cosi Fan Tutte and the Countess Charlotte Magnus in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. In 2019, Mrs. Gackle made her Carnegie Hall debut at the Kurt Weill Concert Hall in New York City. In 2017 and 2018, she was awarded second place consecutively, at the Texoma NATS competitions in the graduate division. Her concert performances include mezzo soloist for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the University of North Texas Conductor’s Chorus in 2023, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Bach's Magnificat in D, and Bach's St. John Passion. Mrs. Gackle is honored to be a part of the choral excellence that exists in Midway ISD. She looks forward to continuing the superb trajectory of the Midway Middle School choral program. She resides in Waco with her husband, daughter, cat, and dog while continuing to finish her doctoral degree at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Email: [email protected] |
Mrs. Hyeyoung Ku is in her sixth year with the Midway Choirs and her fifth year as the Assistant Choir Director at Midway Middle School. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020, earning a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education.
Mrs. Ku began her vocal studies at the age of 9, after being recommended by her classroom teacher and successfully auditioning for the Korean Academy Children’s Choir (KACC). During her time with KACC, she had the opportunity to travel internationally for performances, record songs for Korean TV commercials, and even appear on television programs. These unforgettable experiences ignited her love for music, which only deepened after she moved to the United States at age 14 and continued her involvement in choir. Under her direction and leadership, her choirs have consistently earned Sweepstakes awards at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluations. She is also an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA). Passionate about music education, Mrs. Ku is committed to creating a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to express themselves. She believes in helping students grow into the best version of themselves through a healthy and engaging learning atmosphere. Outside of teaching, Mrs. Ku enjoys trying new foods and traveling with her husband and family. She is also the proud mom of a two-year-old daughter named Eloise and a beloved cat named Star. Email: [email protected] |
River Valley Middle School
Mrs. Lauren Escalante is in her fifth year as a choir director at River Valley Middle School, and she is elated to be stepping into the role of Head Director for the 2026-2027 school year. She is thrilled to continue to be a part of the Midway ISD Fine Arts team and is beginning her eleventh year in the classroom. Originally from Missouri, Mrs. Escalante moved to Texas after high school to continue her education. She is a 2016 graduate of Texas Christian University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education.
Mrs. Escalante has enjoyed numerous singing opportunities, including with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and world-renowned opera singer Andrea Boccelli. She also spent two summers as the Children’s Choir Intern for the Clear Creek Music Festival in Halfway, Oregon. As an educator, Mrs. Escalante encourages students to dive head-first into musical experiences. She believes that a quality music education is crucial to child and adolescent development, and desires for her students to take part in creating a positive learning environment built on mutual respect for one another Professionally, Mrs. Escalante is an active member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Outside of school, she enjoys serving on the worship team at her church, taking naps, drinking coffee, and spending time with her family. Email: [email protected] |
Mr. Garrett Thompson is excited to begin his first year at Midway ISD as Assistant Choir Director at River Valley Middle School. Following his student teaching at China Spring ISD's High School, Middle School, and Primary campuses, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University in December 2025.
Mr. Thompson graduated from Conroe High School in 2019, where he participated in the TMEA All-State Mixed Choir and helped launch their mariachi ensemble, where it grew from a student-led club to a registered course and official school ensemble. At Baylor, he sang in the Men's Choir, A Cappella Choir, and Chamber Singers and was a founding member of Baylor's Mariachi Osos Dorados. In 2025, he displayed research at the Texas Society of Music Theory conference on incorporating Latin-American genres in music theory curriculum. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Thompson enjoys performing in the community with old and new mariachi friends, as well as hiking, thrifting, and making music with his wife Olivia. Email: garrett[email protected] |