Our Directors

Derek Crafton has served as Choral Director at Meade County High School and Stuart Pepper Middle School since 2010. Before coming to Meade County, he spent five years teaching choir, general music and theatre at Ohio County High School in Beaver Dam, Kentucky.  Originally from Franklin, Kentucky, Crafton is a 1999 graduate of Franklin-Simpson High School and a 2005 and 2012 graduate of Western Kentucky University, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, receiving both the bachelor and masters in music education. He has served as KMEA District 4 Choral Chair, Middle School Choir Representative and Assessment Manager. Awards include being named KMEA District 4's Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2013 and 2020, as well as  High School Teacher of the Year in 2015. He holds membership with the Kentucky Music Educators Association. He presented at their 2025 In-Service Conference in a session entitled MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR: TURNING CHAOS INTO SUCCESS. Mr. Crafton serves as Director of Music Ministry at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Brandenburg.