Meet Mr. Dean

sdean (at) cps.k12.in.us
(219)-663-2173 ext. 13108 (office)

Mr. Dean has been involved in making choral music for more than 15 years.   As Director of Choirs at Colonel John Wheeler Middle School, he directs a choral program of around 160 students across two women’s choirs, a men’s choir, a mixed-voice choir, and a vocal jazz ensemble.  He also teaches exploring music courses, directs the drama program, works with the Crown Point All-City Choir Festival, as well as the district’s Circle the State with Song participants.  Under his direction, the CJWMS Choirs have consistently earned gold ratings at ISSMA events, as well as the All-Music Award for the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 school years.

Prior to coming to Wheeler, Mr. Dean was the choir director at Indian Creek Middle School in Trafalgar, Indiana.  At ICMS, he directed three choirs and co-coordinated exploring music curriculum.  He has been on the counseling staff at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan and traveled to Europe with the Blue Lake International Choral Ensemble in the summer of 2013.

Mr. Dean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Vocal/General Music Education from Ball State University.  At Ball State, Mr. Dean sang in many ensembles on and off campus, including the BSU Chamber Choir, Concert Choir and Statesmen, as well as the Indiana Choral Connection.  He was awarded the Outstanding Future Music Educator Award by the Ball State chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) in 2013.  He currently sings with the Valparaiso University Bach Choir, and previously with the Indianapolis Arts Chorale.  He is an active member in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the Indiana Music Education Association (IMEA).

In his free time, he enjoys watching good movies, going to live entertainment events, spending time with friends and family, and eating delicious Mexican and Italian food.