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TJH Band Staff
Joe Cherwink
Joe Cherwink
Joe Cherwink currently serves in Katy ISD as Head Band Director at Tays Junior High. He joined the Tays staff in the Spring of 2022. His responsibilities include conducting Symphonic Winds, assisting with two concert bands, assisting with the Tays Jazz bands, and teaching the beginning Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone classes.
Prior to Tays, he was teaching as an assistant band director at Tompkins High School. He taught at Tompkins from the fall of 2014 through the fall of 2021.
Mr. Cherwink received a Bachelors Degree in Music with an Education Certification from the University of Houston, and a Masters of the Arts in Band Studies from Sam Houston State University. While at the University of Houston, Mr. Cherwink was a clarinet/woodwind instructor at Drew Intermediate School, Crosby Middle School, Crosby High School, Alvin Junior High School, and Alvin High School. He has also student taught with Greg Countryman at Fort Settlement Middle School, and Greg Dick at Friendswood High School.
Mr. Cherwink’s professional affiliations include the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi. Joe Cherwink currently resides in Katy, Texas with his wife, Shaun Cherwink, and children.
Email: josephcherwink@katyisd.org
Shayla Smith
Shayla Smith
Shayla Smith currently serves in Katy ISD as Assistant Band Director at Tays Junior High. She joined the Tays staff in the Fall of 2024. Her responsibilities include conducting Concert Winds, assisting with two concert bands, assisting with the Tays Jazz bands, and teaching the beginning trumpet, oboe, bassoon, and low brass classes.
Ms. Smith received a Bachelors Degree in Music with an Education Certification from Sam Houston State University. While at Sam Houston State University, Ms. Smith was in multiple ensembles including the Bearkat Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Trumpet Choir. During her college career, she was a private trumpet instructor in Waller ISD, Cypress ISD, Conroe ISD, Madisonvile ISD, and Willis ISD. Additionally, she was a visual instructor with numerous HS groups and has worked on the staff of Drum Corps International groups for 5 consecutive years. Ms. Smith completed her student teaching placement with Stephen Bond and Donnie Artley.
Ms. Smith’s professional affiliations include the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Shayla Smith has a passion for outdoor activities, which include spending time at the lake and beach, hiking, longboarding, and working out.
Email: shaylajsmith@katyisd.org
Dave Singletary
Dave Singletary
Dave Singletary currently serves in Katy ISD as Assistant Band Director at Tays Junior High. He joined the Tays staff in the Fall of 2025. His responsibilities include conducting Lyric Winds, assisting with two concert bands, assisting with the Tays Jazz bands, and teaching the beginning french horn, percussion, and low brass classes.
Mr. Singletary is thrilled to return to the Tompkins High School cluster, where he previously served as assistant band director from 2013 to 2022. Most recently, he was an assistant director at James E. Taylor High School (2023–2025) and head director at George Ranch High School in Lamar Consolidated ISD (2022–2023). He has also taught in the Cy-Fair, Galena Park, and Santa Fe ISDs.
Before moving to Houston with his wife, Claire, and daughter, Elise, Mr. Singletary was a head band director in South Carolina for five years. He holds an undergraduate degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. His primary horn teachers were Robert Pruzin and Robert Rydel, and he studied conducting with William Moody, James Copenhaver, and William Malambri.
With over 30 years of experience , Mr. Singletary has created successful band programs for schools across the United States. He has also served on the instructional staff of the Carolina Crown and Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps.
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