Mr. Cross was born and raised in Appleton City, Missouri. After graduating High School in 2007, he went to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in pursuit of a Degree in Music Education – Dual Certification with a Vocal Emphasis.  Mr. Cross graduated from UCM in 2011 with a Bachelor’s of Music Education. His first year of teaching was spent in Lockwood, Missouri teaching K-12 vocal, instrumental, and general music. He has spent the last 5 years teaching in the Sherwood School District as the 6-12 Choir Director. While teaching at Sherwood, Mr. Cross worked on and completed his Master’s Degree from Florida State University in Choral Music Education (MME). He is excited to be starting a new adventure at Shawnee Mission West and looks forward to working in such a great school and school district.

Mr. Magnus is entering his 3^rd year as the director of theatre at Shawnee Mission West High School (after a 24-year stint as the director of theatre at Frontier Trail Middle School in Olathe).  In his 32-year theatre career he has been a featured director and teacher at Olathe South High School, Olathe Northwest High School & Johnson County Community College.  A graduate of Emporia State University, he earned his Master Degree at Rockhurst University. He has been a freelance actor and director since 1985, performing and directing on stages in Wichita, Emporia and Kansas City.  He has also worked in radio, has been a private acting coach, and is a published playwright of six adaptations of Shakespearean plays, including Romeo & Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew, which have been performed all across the country.  Mr. Magnus has been the Artistic Director of The Barn Players since September of 2008.