Directors
Mrs. Nicole Decker
Nicole graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in music education. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Music Education from Northern State University and will graduate in May 2025. While in undergraduate studies, Nicole was a member of The Sound of USD marching band as drum major, participated in the symphonic band, concert band, woodwind ensemble, concert choir, jazz band and pep band. Before coming to Roosevelt High School, she was the High School Band Director at Madison Central High School in Madison, SD for 5 years and she spent 2 years as the 7-8 instrumental music teacher at Watertown Middle School in Watertown, SD. Nicole is currently an active member of NAfME and the South Dakota Bandmasters Association and is an alumna of the international music fraternity Phi Kappa Lambda. She was also selected to be part of the 2019 class of USD’s 30 under 30.
Nicole’s teaching career expands beyond the classroom and into the private lesson studio. She teaches her own private studio of middle and high school students in Sioux Falls, SD. Nicole’s performing career includes playing for the National Community Band and previously with the Watertown Municipal Band and Madison Community Band. Currently, Nicole resides in Sioux Falls with her husband, Jordan, two boys, Grayson and Reddik, and their dog and cat, Rockne and Rosie.
Mr. John Laughlin
John has been a band director at Memorial Middle School since 2004 and is thrilled to serve as Assistant Band Director at Roosevelt High School starting in the fall of 2024. While at Memorial, he conducted 6-8 Band, Jazz Band, Signature Show Choir Band, Marching Band, and the Mustang Wind Ensemble.
John has a Bachelor of Music degree in K-12 Music Education from the University of South Dakota, where he studied trombone and euphonium with Dr. Larry Mitchell, and a Master of Science in Education from Southwest Minnesota State University. He is a member of the South Dakota Music Education Association and South Dakota Bandmasters. He is also an active staff member in the Sioux Falls District and has served as a clinician/adjudicator at numerous band contests and festivals.
John's wife is an attorney in Sioux Falls. They have two children – Jack is a sophomore at RHS and Bennett is an 8th grader at MMS. They also have two extremely busy miniature schnauzers. John spends his free time fishing and cheering for the USD Coyotes.