• About Mr. Nathan Johnston...

    Position: Director of Bands

    Email: Mr. Nathan Johnston

    Mr. Nathan Johnston

    Connect With Us

    Click here to connect with us on our school social media pages, Infinite Campus Portal (assignments and grades), by email, or by phone.

    Welcome!

    I am excited to be a part of the Casteel Colt community. Although I grew up in northern CA, I have live in AZ since 5th grade. I've been a musician for 33+ years and enjoy being active and creative with my family.

    My Education and Professional Background


    College Experience

    • Bachelor of Music (BM) in Music Education from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
    • Masters in Education (MEd) in Music Education from Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama)
    • Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) Student in Music Learning & Teaching from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)


    I have been a classroom teacher for 18 + years, primarily in 5th - 12th grade music classrooms. I also served as a District Fine Arts & Physical Education Coordinator in Scottsdale USD for 2 years and an Adjunct Faculty for MCC for 8 years.

    I continue today as a Community Music Ensemble conductor for 15 + years (Phoenix Youth Symphony and Rosie's House) and a local & national clinician in the music education space. 

    My Educational Philosophy

    As a creative leader, I intend to foster artistic experiences that enable individuality in the collaborative space. I focus on the opportunities for “creative education”, blending traditional and progressive approaches in the same learning or community environments. I have served as a classroom teacher, school district fine arts administrator, elected official in a variety of professional membership organizations, and am consistently a fierce advocate for amplifying the student voice in any space. I am an active performance clinician, leadership development consultant, and community engagement coordinator. Believing that relevance is the core to life long learning, I strive to connect through our challenges and empower glocal citizens to move our work forward.