Ryan Gaughan
Ryan Gaughan has been the Director of Bands at Faubion Middle School since 2018. Prior to working in McKinney ISD, he was the assistant band director at Keller Middle School in Keller, Texas starting in 2011.
In 2011, Mr. Gaughan earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. While at TCU, he studied music education under the direction of Bobby Francis, and he studied clarinet with Gary Whitman and Victoria Luperi. He also earned a Master of Music Education degree from Southern Methodist university in 2019.
He oversees the Faubion School band program, which consists of more than 360 students in grades six through eight. He conducts the Honors Band and assists with the Symphonic Band and Concert Band. He also teaches beginning band classes. Under the direction of Mr. Gaughan, the FMS Honors Band have received unanimous first-division ratings at the Texas UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest, as well as first-division ratings and Best in Class at festivals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Mr. Gaughan is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. He has presented clinics at TBA and the Conn Selmer Education Summit. He serves on the TMEA Region 24 Middle School Band Committee.
Mr. Gaughan loves teaching and considers himself to be a lifelong learner. He is grateful to his mentors, colleagues and students because they continue to teach him. He draws on his passion for music, quick humor and charisma to motivate his students. Mr. Gaughan lives in the Dallas area, and is honored to have a loving family, many great mentors, band directors, and close friends that have influenced his life thus far.
Josh Stephenson
Josh Stephenson is originally from Round Rock, Texas. He began playing French Horn in middle school and it took him all the way to Stephen F. Austin State University where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree. While there, he performed in numerous ensembles including the Wind Ensemble, Lumberjack Marching Band, and the Roarin’ Buzzsaw Basketball Band. He was also a member of the 2013 Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps horn line where he played mellophone. He has been able to travel across the nation performing music, including NCAA basketball tournaments and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Before teaching in McKinney, Mr. Stephenson taught 3 years in Mesquite, Texas. During his time there he was able to help the marching band earn their first appearance at the state marching contest, and the middle school non-varsity band earned their first sweepstakes award in 11 years. Mr. Stephenson has been at Faubion Middle School since 2019. He teaches beginner trumpet, french horn, trombone, oboe, and bassoon. He also teaches the Symphonic band and assists with the Honors band.
Mr. Stephenson is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda music honors fraternity. He lives in McKinney with his wife Aly Stephenson and rescue dog Maddie. In his free time he likes to be outside playing disc golf, inside doing puzzles, or with friends playing board games. He is thankful for the opportunity to positively impact lives everyday through music!
Taylor Alsaffar
Taylor Alsaffar is a native of Carrollton, Texas, where she graduated from Hebron High School. She then graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. During her time at TCU, she performed with the TCU Wind Symphony on Bb and Eb clarinet, served as drum major of the Horned Frog Marching Band, served as Vice President of Kappa Kappa Psi Gamma Sigma, and served as President of TCU’s Music Educators Organization.
Prior to teaching at Faubion Middle School, Mrs. Alsaffar spent one year teaching at McKinney High School, where she taught the Concert Band, assisted with the Royal Pride Marching Band, and taught a beginner saxophone class at Evans Middle School. At Faubion, Mrs. Alsaffar teaches beginner oboe, bassoon, clarinet, and saxophone. She also teaches the Concert Band and assists with the Honors Band and Symphonic Band.
Mrs. Alsaffar’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Kappa Kappa Psi. Mrs. Alsaffar currently lives in Frisco, TX with her husband (who is also a band director) and their rescue dog, Slinky. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and spending time outdoors. She is very excited to be at Faubion with such amazing students and staff!
Tyler Nechamkin - Percussion Director
Tyler Nechamkin graduated from the University of North Texas in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. At UNT, Mr. Nechamkin enjoyed performing with the schools many ensembles including the snare ensemble that took first place in the 2015 PASIC Small Ensemble Competition – continuing the legendary history of UNT’s dominance in marching percussion.
Mr. Nechamkin was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in 2015 and in 2016 when the corps won its 12th Fred Sanford High Percussion Award for best percussion performance in Drum Corps International. In 2014, Mr. Nechamkin was given the incredible opportunity to perform with the Synergy Percussion Group on a week-long tour of Italy, wrapping up with a percussion ensemble performance in Rome.
Mr. Nechamkin is excited for his first year with the Royal Pride Band. Before coming to McKinney, he was the Assistant Percussion Director at Wylie East High School and the Percussion Director at Bethesda Christian School. He is also an avid composer and arranger – his works can be found at tapspace.com.
Mr. Nechamkin is a member of TMEA and the Percussive Arts Society. When not teaching, Mr. Nechamkin enjoys writing music, spending time with friends and family, and endlessly re-watching The Office and Friends with his wife, Lauren, and their dog, Chloe.