Staff

Mr. Chad Rose – Director of Bands, Sheridan High School

Chad Rose is entering his fourth year as Director of Bands at Sheridan High School. At SHS he directs the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Pep Bands, and Percussion Ensemble.

Mr. Rose has taught music in Wyoming for 25 years. He began his career at Wind River High School, Burns High School, and Tongue River High School before joining his brother at Buffalo High School, where he taught grades 8–12 band and choir. During his tenure at Buffalo, the school was recognized as one of the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America” by NAfME and NAMM (2006). His ensembles, including the 120-member Bison Marching Band, competed successfully across Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, and California.

Before coming to Sheridan, Mr. Rose taught in Worland, where he led 6–12 band and choir and coached golf. Under his direction, the Marshazz jazz choir competed in the Reno Jazz Festival, and many students were selected to All-State and All-Northwest ensembles. The Black Thunder Marching Band also re-established itself as Wyoming’s premier 3A marching band and consistently earned top honors at the state, regional, and national level.

Mr. Rose has been recognized frequently for excellence in teaching and leadership. His honors include:

• Master Teacher Award – Washakie County School District (2017)

• Bandmaster of the Year – Wyoming Chapter of Phi Beta Mu (2019)

• Grammy Educator of the Year Award Quarterfinalist – 2019, 2020, 2023

• Saluting America’s Band Directors Marching Band – Participant, Tournament of Roses Parade (2022)

• 50 Directors Who Make a Difference – School Band & Orchestra Magazine (2022)

• Jazz Educator of the Year – Wyoming Jazz Educators (2024)

• Wyoming Music Educator of the Year - Wyoming Music Educators Association (2025)

• Outstanding Music Educator Award, Section 8 – National Federation of High Schools (2025)
  
  

In addition to music, Mr. Rose has an extensive coaching background. He is a six-time conference Coach of the Year in golf, with six conference championships and three state runner-up finishes, and has also coached basketball, football, and soccer.

Music is a family calling for the Roses. Chad grew up in Lusk, where his parents, Randy and Debbie, taught music in the Niobrara County School District for 35 years. His brother is the former Director of Bands at Kelly Walsh High School, and currently an Associate Commissioner of the Wyoming High School Activities Association, Managing Director of the Wyoming All-State Marching Band, and director of the Casper Civic Band. His sister has also taught music in Wyoming.

Mr. Rose has held leadership positions at the state, regional, and national level. He is a Past President of the Wyoming Music Educators Association, has served on the NAfME Northwest Board, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Wyoming Jazz Educators and NW Division President-Elect of NAfME’s National Executive Board. His service also includes roles on the Wyoming Worlds of Music Council, multiple WMEA board positions, and the Wyoming Coaches Association Board as Golf Chair.

He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (1999) and a Master of Arts in Music Education (2007) from the University of Wyoming, as well as a Master of Science in Athletic Administration from Ohio University (2019). 

As a performer, Mr. Rose has appeared as both a trombonist and vocalist with ensembles including the Utah Symphony, Powder River Symphony, Sheridan College Bands, Big Horn Big Band, and Wyoming Jazz Educators ensembles. He has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Ben Folds, Tyler Gilmore, Slide Hampton, the Brubeck Brothers, and the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note.

Beyond his work at SHS, Mr. Rose is in demand across the Rocky Mountain region as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor. He also enjoys golfing and boating with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children: Chloe, Marshall, and Maverick.

Mr. Jason McArthur – Sheridan High School – Marching Band Assistant

Jason McArthur is a passionate and accomplished music educator and school leader whose career has been defined by a commitment to excellence in both music and education. He currently serves as the Music Specialist at Woodland Park Elementary School in Sheridan, Wyoming, where he works to instill a lifelong love of music in his students through engaging instruction, creativity, and performance opportunities.

Jason began his teaching career in Idaho, after earning his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Idaho State University. He later returned to Idaho State to complete a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration while teaching band in Idaho Falls, broadening his expertise in teaching, curriculum, and leadership.

His professional journey has included a variety of influential roles. He served as the band and choir director at Tongue River High School and Middle School, where he built strong, dynamic programs that emphasized both musical artistry and community involvement, and were known for their outstanding musical theater productions. Following some years in music education, Jason transitioned into administration as assistant principal of Thermopolis High School, where he provided leadership and vision for staff and students alike.

Now, in his role at Woodland Park, Jason has returned to his greatest passion—teaching music to young learners. He brings to the classroom a wealth of experience as both an educator and administrator, fostering not only musical growth but also confidence, creativity, and collaboration among his students.

Outside the classroom, Jason is known for his dedication to this family and faith, his leadership in education, and his ongoing commitment to helping students know themselves and their role in their culture through music.

Mrs. Joy McArthur – Sheridan High School Marching Band – Color Guard Instructor

Joy McArthur has worked as a special education para for the last five years, working primarily with K-2.  Joy received the SCSD1 Classified Employee of the Year in 2020 and the SCSD2 Classified Staff Member at Sagebrush Elementary in 2021. Joy has also been teaching dance for the last 28 years.  

As a dancer Mrs. McArthur began with ballet, gymnastics and tap at four years old. That evolved into lyrical ballet, modern dance, ballet en pointe, jazz, hip hop, clogging and ballroom dance (International and American styles).  As a competitive dancer, Joy held the Idaho State title for three consecutive years in all ballroom styles (there are 15).  She placed in the top three nationally during the same three year period. 

In college, Mrs. McArthur danced on scholarship with the BYU Tour Company. She traveled with the team to Idaho, Utah, California, New Zealand and Figi.  While on tour she danced on some of the biggest stages in the world, beaches, or even in streets. Joy picked up a flag her second year of college and immediately fell in love with dancing to the live music of a marching band.  She marched with the Idaho State University Marching Band for two years and served as Color Guard Captain/Choreographer for a year.  After her second year in college Joy finished competitive dancing by winning a 2nd Place World Medal for International Latin Dancing.

Mrs. McArthur began teaching private lessons at 17 and has taught or coached ever since. Some noted positions include BYU-IDAHO (5 years), Fire and Ice Latin Formation Team (3 years), Idaho State University Ballroom Company (2 years), Rexburg HS Color Guard (5 years), In House choreographer for Treblemakers Show Choir (2 years) and The Joy of Dance Fusion Studio (10 years).  

Mrs. McArthur routinely choreographs for various groups across the country, including show choirs, color guards, ballroom (latin and standard) formation teams, individual ballroom couples, modern dance formation teams and hip hop groups. She continues to choreograph solos and enjoys choreographing/staging for musicals.  Some musicals of note include; Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Tangled, Frozen and The Great Tie Flume.

Outside of dancing, Joy loves to spend time crafting, cooking, sewing and surfing.  She has lived in the Sheridan area for the last 11 years. She volunteers as a youth group coordinator/counselor for her church and loves spending time with the youth.  Out of the many wonderful things in her life, the most important to her is her husband Jason.  They have been happily married for 26 years.  They love going to the beach, building houses and furniture, working on music projects and just spending time together.  They love traveling, camping and teasing their four kids, Macey, Carsen, Michael and Sydni.