Central High School teacher wins choral directors award

Jordan Cox, director of vocal music at Central High School, has earned the 2014 Outstanding District Director award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association. He was nominated by his peers.

This is Cox's fifth year teaching and his third at Central. He previously was at Jackson High School, his alma mater.

"... It's quite an honor for me to be selected by my peers, the other teachers in our district. ... We have a lot of outstanding music teachers, especially choral directors, in our district," Cox said.

When he became a teacher, Cox said he stayed close to his peers through Facebook and email, and they cooperate a lot. He said he's grateful to his former choir directors at Jackson, Sisters Christi Shinn and Beth St. John.

"So especially for these older teachers that are so experienced and have been such a big influence on me, for them to have nominated me and selected me for that is very humbling," he said.

Cox said the program has grown the past three years. He has about 150 students in the choral program.

"And each year just keeps getting better," he said. "The kids are just really excited to learn and excited to sing new things ... I really enjoy it over here."

Having always been involved in church music, Cox serves as worship pastor at Fruitland Community Church.