Band Directors and Contact information:
Chad Wood, Director of Bands
 Mr. Wood is in his Eighth year at Staley. Mr. Wood teaches all beginning brass classes, Symphonic Band, Beginning Jazz, and assists with Honor Band. Under Mr. Wood's leadership, the Staley Band has continued a tradition of excellence and continued to grow both in number and awards. He is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas where he held principal trombone with with University Band, Tri-Collegiate Orchestra, and 'World Famous' Cowboy Band. During college, Mr. Wood performed in London, Spain, Washington DC (in a Presidential Inagural parade), and countless other events. He is still an active performer and currently plays with church ensembles, Jazz I.N.C., New Life Symphony Orchestra, and other various groups in the DFW metroplex.
Mr. Wood grew up in Kansas (go Jayhawks!) and moved to Rockport-Fulton, Texas in high school. Mr. Wood is married to the GORGEOUS Mrs. Wood and they live in Frisco with their little girl Emily, their Boston Terror...sorry-Terrier Macie, and their mut, Charlie. Mr. Wood is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, the International Trombone Association, and the Hardin-Simmons University Board of Young Associates.
Contact information: woodc@friscoisd.org 469.633.4521
Shaun M. Gray, Assistant Band Director
Mr. Gray is in his third year at Staley Middle School (SMS). He teaches Beginning Woodwinds, conducts the Honor and Concert Bands, and is also director of the school’s first ever jazz group, the Stampede Jazz Ensemble.
Mr. Gray is a native of Houston, TX and graduated from the world-known High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) where he studied instrumental and vocal music.
Mr. Gray transferred to the University of North Texas (UNT) in 2003, earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree in December 2006. While at UNT, he studied clarinet with Dr. Garry Evans and Darryl Coad, while also becoming an undergraduate conducting student of Doctors Angela Schroeder and Andrew Trachsel respectively. Mr. Gray has been influenced by many educators throughout the years, but none greater than mentors Craig Green, Carlos Neira, and Dr. Nicholas E. Williams.
Prior to his appointment at Staley, Mr. Gray served as student teacher at SMS and Frisco High School in fall 2006. He would return to Staley in spring 2007 as Band Technician and was hired as the new Assistant Director prior to the 2007-08 school year. Mr. Gray brings numerous years of teaching experience as a private lessons instructor, clinician, music appreciation instructor, history & cultural studies instructor, student assistant director, teaching assistant, and conductor of various instrumental an vocal ensembles.
Among his activities and accomplishments, Mr. Gray is most proud to have served with the America Reads Summer Camp, sponsored through the UNT Center for Public Service. His work with the organization was rewarded with the Silver Level of the President’s Volunteer Service Award in April 2007.
Mr. Gray has performed with the Houston Community College Clarinet Choir and UNT’s Concert Band, Basketball Band, and Green Brigade Marching Band (serving as drum major in 2005); all under the leadership of Dr. Williams. Mr. Gray also proudly served as Music Director of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Gamma Theta Chapter, directing the Chapter Chorus and “Sunday Night” Big Band in multiple performances during his tenure. He continues to stay active with the fraternity now as Secretary of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area Alumni Association (www.dfwsinfonia.org). Mr. Gray has the distinct honor of being the founding president of the North Texas Music Educators (NTSME) at UNT.
Mr. Gray resides in Denton and plays bass clarinet with the Frisco Community Band (www.friscocommunityband.org) under the direction of Dr. Daryl Trent, FISD Director of Fine Arts. His other memberships include Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (alumnus), North Texas Exes, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Contact information: grays@friscoisd.org 469.633.4520
Heath Dillard, Percussion Coordinator
This is Mr. Dillard's third year as assistant director of bands and director of percussion at Frisco High School. He also serves as percussion director for Pioneer Heritage Middle School and Staley Middle School. Mr. Dillard's teaching responsibilities include marching percussion, percussion ensemble, percussion class, concert band percussion sectionals, and music theory. He also teaches beginning percussion, percussion ensemble, and concert band percussion sectionals at PHMS and SMS. Mr. Dillard received his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. During his time at NSU, he studied percussion under the direction of Ken Green. Mr. Dillard is now in his sixth year as a band director in the state of Texas. He was the percussion director at Round Rock Westwood High School, Grisham Middle School, Canyon Vista Middle School from 2002-2006. In 2007, Mr. Dillard was the assistant band director at Harby Jr. High and the assistant percussion director at Alvin High School in Alvin, Texas. Mr. Dillard was born in Odessa, Texas and later moved to the Austin area where his family still resides. He went to Georgetown High School where he was part of an award winning band program. He has served as a clinician and as a music arranger for many drumlines throughout Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Dillard is also an endorser for Innovative Percussion, a percussion company based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Staley Middle School Front Office
Office: 469.633.4500
Fax: 469.633.4550
website
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