Outstanding Contributor

Shawn Chastain is starting his 20th as Executive Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Wichita Public Schools, supporting 275+ faculty members who instruct over 25,000 students enrolled in WPS Fine Arts Programs. Prior to this position, Shawn spent 15 years in the choral music classroom at Wichita Charles Curtis Middle School and Heights High School.  While at Curtis and Heights, Chastain’s choirs consistently received superior ratings at district, state and regional festivals. His select ensembles were awarded exemplary/best-in-class at festivals in Dallas, San Antonio, Breckenridge, Branson, and Chicago. Chastain received his degrees from Wichita State University, where he has also served a Presser Scholar, Senior Honor Man, guest lecturer, & commencement speaker. In addition to his educational responsibilities, Shawn is Music Coordinator/Adult & Youth Choir Director at Wichita’s Calvary United Methodist Church, Director of the Wichita Choral Society, and ARISE (African Americans Renewing Interest in Spirituals Ensemble). Shawn has also directed WSU’s Kodaly Certification Adult Choral Ensemble and the Sedgwick County Jail’s Men’s Ensemble.  He is past president of the Kansas Choral Directors Association, WSU’s Fine Arts Advisory Board/Friends of Fine Arts, and past chair of NAfME’s Music Program Leaders Advisory Council. Shawn currently serves as an ex-officio board member of the Wichita Arts Council, Wichita Symphony, Ballet Wichita & Empty Bowls Wichita. In the summer of 2005, Chastain was selected as one of 15 educators in the United States to participate in the Fulbright German-American Teacher Linkage Program.  Shawn has received the Outstanding Administrator Award from the Kansas Art Educators Association, Kansas Music Educators Association and Midwest Kodaly Music Educators of America. He is also a 2020 Wichita State University Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee, 2022 Wichita Public Schools Good Apple award winner and the 2024 Outstanding Administrator by the Organization of American Kodaly Educators.  Shawn resides in East Wichita with his wife Debbie, an NILD Educational Therapist.  They are proud parents of Lindsey, WPS Speech Pathologist; Eric, USPS Rural Carrier; and Elsie, BCC Headliner Show Choir member.    Shawn credits the foundation of his lifelong love for music and the arts, from his experiences as a 5th-12th band student. Principal Band Directors, Private Teachers & Influencers include Maranda Wilson, Dr. Dan Stiffler, Rev. Larry Greenwood, Denny Senseney, Lori Supinie, Dwight Beckham Sr., Keith Woolery, Casey Teske, Jerry Ramsey, Bob Bitter, Russ Widener and Dr. William Mathis (Jr. & Sr.).