Mr. Josh Cockrell is currently in his 16^th year as a band director and music educator and is currently in his 5^th year as the Director of Bands at Elberta High School. He graduated from Dothan High School in Dothan, AL in 2002 and was under the direction of Mr. Steve McLendon. After high school, Mr. Cockrell attended Troy University in Troy, AL where he was a member of the Sound of the South Marching Band in which he served as section leader for one year.

He was also a member of the Troy University Symphony Band for four years and served as principal trombone, the Troy University Chamber Winds, the Troy University Basketball Pep Band, the Troy University Concert Band, the Troy University Jazz Ensemble, and was a charter member of the Southeast Alabama Brass Company Brass Quintet. He graduated with his Bachelor of Music Education, summa cum laude from Troy University in 2006. Mr. Cockrell later earned his Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida. Prior to coming to Elberta, Mr. Cockrell was the band director for Brantley High School in Brantley, AL for 6 years. He then went to Flomaton High School in Flomaton, AL to server as band director for 5 years.

Mr. Cockrell is a member of the National Educators Association (NEA), Alabama Education Association (AEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA), the Alabama Bandmasters Association (ABA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Delta Pi. Mr. Cockrell lives in Atmore, AL with his wife, Hayley Canterbury-Cockrell, who is the band director for Escambia County High School in Atmore. His teaching duties consist of teaching the 7^th and 8^th grade middle school band at Elberta Middle School, the high school Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and AP Music Theory.