History

TDEA History

The Texas Dance Educators Association was established in 1979 by Pat Clark, Mary Daniel, Peggy Moree Smith, Cynthia Corn Parker, and Kathy Wood. Initially, Texas Dance/Drill Team Directors Association (TDDTDA), the first meetings were held in the homes of the founders, the Holiday Inn, and Whataburger in Columbus, Texas. Our five founders spent those meetings discussing the issues facing dance education and patterned the first By-laws after the Texas High School Coaches Association. The first meeting of Charter Members was held on February 21, 1980 followed by the first annual convention on April 12, 1980. Since then, TDEA has been an active voice in the dance/drill team community in Texas.

Charter Members

Cathy Arellano
Linda Armstrong
Betty Baker
Pat Clark
Robin Cerny
Mary Daniels

Mildred "Bitty" Elkins
Terri Elliott
Diana Hec
Gail Jensen
Linda Kearns
Robin Lawrence

Betty Mullins
Cynthia Corn Parker
Glenda Pewthers
Peggy Moree Smith
Kathy Wood

TDEA Presidents

1979-1982
1982-1984
1984-1985
1985-1986
1986-1987
1987-1988
1988-1989
1989-1990
1990-1991
1991-1992
1992-1993
1993-1994
1994-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2003
2003-2004

Peggy Moree Smith
Kathy Wood
Cynthia Corn Parker
Patty LaTouche
Debbie Hyman Nordstrom
R.J. Johnson
Mary Lou Johnson
Ronnye Cowell
LuAnne Mills
Betsy Heathcock
Debbie Melton
Tammy Fife
Cathy Arellano
Betty Buchner
Susan Mojaver
Patti Otwell
Holly Knight
Shannon Foust
Patty Henson
Meredith Watassek

2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023
2023-2024

Fayla Curry
Denise Cochran
Tisha Smith
Kara Baker
Lakeisha McGowen
Stacie Zimmerman
Kristine Copeland
Stephanie Renfrow
Jennifer Dawson
Holly Lyons
Cyndi Vaughn
Sara Nash
Abigail Payne
Alison Lowrey
Saranya Taylor
Shelby Polansky
Libby Koepke
Brittany Huebner
Allie Hudak

Hall of Fame Recipients

1996

Betty Baker
Kay Crawford
Gussie Nell Davis
Irving Dreibrodt
Biddy Dodd Elkins
Al Gilliam

Denard Haden
Gayla King
Lottie Mills
Beverly Minaldi
Cynthia Parker
Lesby Ray

Dale Robbins
Mildred Stringer
Barbara Tidwell
Kathy Wood

1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Deana B. Covin
Floyette Waller
Dorothy Brown
Dr. Joanna Friesen
Mike Miller
Dr. Joan Hays
Cathy Arellano
none inducted
Mary Daniel
Doreen Laurie
Betty Buchner
Kathy Harlan
Ruth Flynn
Eva Saunders
none inducted
Dana Blair
none inducted
Mary Wendt
Susan Angell
none inducted
Kay Gabrysch
Barbara Loomis
Debbie Nordstrom
none inducted
Tammy Fife
Diana Liz Gallego
Angela Hayes

Prissy Sliva Gladys Keeton
Mike Mastandrea
Joyce Pennington
Beverly Skipper Pat Clark
Betsy Heathcock Laura Davis

Mary Lou Johnson Betty Loter

Linda Lewis Hall

Elizabeth Sanchez Lopez
Debbie Melton

Judie Dunn

Donna M Haas

Peggy Moree Smith

Mary Beth Kepper

Shelley Wayne

Lifetime Achievement

Director of the Year

1990-1991
1991-1992
1992-1993
1993-1994
1994-1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023

Robin Cerny
Gussie Nell Davis
Donna M. Haas
Dr. Kay Crawford
Joyce Pennington
Mary Lou Johnson
Cathy Arellano
Doreen Laurie
Mike Mastandrea
Betsy Heathcock
Kay Gabrysch
Barbara Loomis
Betty Buchner
Mary Beth Kepper
Mary Wendt
Kathy Wood
Angela Hayes
Tammy Fife
Kay Lynn Renfro
Ronnye Cowell
Debbie Melton
Debbie Nordstrom
Denise Cochran
Shelly Wayne
Susan Angell
Lisa Dalton
Darla Mansfield
Tracey Anderson
Dana Blair
Patty Henson
none- virtual convention
Marla Valk
jon Fisher

Kim Burge
Betty Buchner
Cindy Russell
Cathy Arellano
Sonja Clay
Betsy Heathcock
Debbie Melton
Mary Beth Kepper
Angela Hayes
Patty Henson
Patti Otwell
Ronnye Cowell
Mitzi Phillips
jon Fisher
Denise Cochran
Meredith Watassek
April Swenson
Stephanie Renfrow
Sally Provenzano
Nika Carter
Stephanie Lyle
Cyndi Vaughn
Elaine Randolph
Kelli Woodruff
Cristina Singleton
Araceli Lopez
Darby Boyd
Eve Robinson
Holly Lyons
Kim Cardwell
none-virtual convention
Melissa Reed Page
Stevie McCall

Distinguished Service

2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Sandy Morton Debbie Nordstrom Joyce Pennington
Sondra Schaaf Patricia Cherry Maisie Temme
Nika Carter Sheila Taylor
Connie Anglin
Kelly Branham Debbie Shope CR Pennington Tina Hudgens
Tom Waggoner Julius Gordon
Susan Angell-Gonzalez Suzanne Hutchins
Sylvia Navarro
Elizabeth Sanchez-Lopez
Tracey Anderson Renee Stripling
jon Fisher Sandy Hinton
Rebecca Barber Lisa Fortenberry Gracy Vela
Kim Burge Becky Crackel
Keith Moravits Debbie Moravits
none- virtual convention
Wendy Hankins
Kristine Copeland Ginger Jarosek Audra Taylor

Dance Educator of the Year

2015-2016
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023

Jackie Aguirre
Karen Searles
Heather Iovine
Ronelle Eddings
Karla V. Canamar-Hardaway
none-virtual convention
none selected
Kelley Morgan