Dave Polk was born in Farmington, Missouri and soon moved to Mesquite, Tx where he grew up, attending Mesquite schools. He graduated from Mesquite High School in 1984. During high school, he was involved in Band, Choir, and Theater Arts, and was twice a member of the Texas All-State Band. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Texas Tech University, where he studied percussion with Alan Shinn and conducting with the late James Sudduth. While at Texas Tech, he was a member of the Symphonic Band, Goin Band from Raiderland, the Symphony Orchestra, and was section leader of the drumline (ZIT) for 2 years. His final year at Tech, he was the arranger and instructor of the drumline. He finished his education certification in 1992 at Southwest Texas State University ( Texas State) while beginning his teaching career in Georgetown, Texas under the mentorship of Rodney Klett. Since then, he has taught at both the middle school and high school levels in Killeen, Edgewood, Allen, and DeSoto. His performance experiences include membership in the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also performed with the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, Midland/Odessa Symphony, and Roswell (NM) Symphony. He credits the previously mentioned teachers, along with Frank Coachman, Harry Blake, and Ralph Hardimon for guiding him in his musical and educational endeavors. He also gives much credit to his parents, Alton Polk – a retired band director, and his mother, Julie Boltz, an accomplished pianist and music teacher.

He is married to Lori Polk and has three children, Matthew, Maggie and Michael Polk. He enjoys playing golf and relaxing with his family in his spare time. He is also an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.