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 Peggy Moree Smith
1982-1984 Kathy Wood
1984-1985 Cynthia Corn Parker
1985-1986 Patty LaTouche
1986-1987 Debbie  Hyman Nordstrom
1987-1988 R.J.  Johnson
1988-1989 MaryLou Johnson
1989-1990 Ronny Cowell
1990-1991 LuAnne Mills
1991-1992 Betsy Heathcock
1992-1993 Debbie Melton
1993-1994 Tammy Fife
1994-1996 Cathy Arellano
1996-1997 Betty Buchner
1997-1998 Susan Mojaver
1998-1999 Patti Otwell
1999-2000 Holly Knight
​2000-2001 Shannon Foust
​2001-2003 Patty Henson
​2003-2004 Meredith Watassek

2004-2005 Fayla Curry
2005-2006 Denise Cochran
2006-2007 Tisha Smith
2007-2008 Kara Baker
2008-2009 Lakeisha McGowen
2009-2010 Stacie Zimmerman
2010-2011 Kristine Copeland
2011-2012 Stephanie Renfrow
2012-2013 Jennifer Dawson
2013-2014 Holly Lyons
2014-2015 Cyndi Vaughn
2015-2016 Sara Nash
2016-2017 Abigail Payne
​2017-2018 Alison Lowrey
​2018-2019 Saranya Taylor
​2019-2021 Shelby Polansky
​2021-2022 Libby Koepke
2022-2023 Brittany Huebner
​2023-2024 Allie Hudak

Administrative Assistants

2013-2024 Kristine Copeland

Hall of Fame Recipients

1996: Betty Baker, Kay Crawford, Gussie Nell Davis, Irving Dreibrodt, Biddy Dodd Elkins, Al Gilliam, Denard Harden, Gayla King, Lottie Mills, Beverly Minaldi, Cynthia Parker, Lesby Ray, Dale Robbins, Mildred Stringer, Barbara Tidwell,  & Kathy Wood

1997: Deanna B. Covin, Prissy Sliva, & Judie Dunn
1998: Floyette Waller & Gladys Keeton
1999: Dorothy Brown & Mike Mastandrea
2000: Dr. Joanna Friesen & Joyce Pennington
2001: Mike Miller, Beverly Skipper & Donna M Haas
2002: Dr. Joan Hays & Pat Clark
2003: Cathy Arellano, Betsy Heathcock & Peggy Moree Smith
​2004: no inductees
2005: Mary Daniel
2006: Doreen Laurie
2007: Betty Buchner, MaryLou Johnson & Mary Beth Kepper
2008: Kathy Harlan & Betty Loter
2009: Ruth Flynn
2010: Eva Saunders 
​2011: no inductees
2012: Dana Blair
​2013: no inductees
2014: Mary Wendt
2015: Susan Angell 
​2016: no inductees
2017: Kay Gabrysch
​2018: Barbara Loomis
​2019: Debbie Nordstrom & Linda Lewis Hall
​2020: no inductees
​2021: ​Tammy Fife
​2022: Diana Liz Gallego, Elizabeth Sanchez Lopez, & Shelley Wayne
​2023: Angela Hayes & Debbie Melton

Lifetime Achievement

1990-1991 Robin Cerny
1991-1992 Gussie Nell Davis
1992-1993 Donna M. Haas
1993-1994 Dr. Kay Crawford
1994-1995 Joyce Pennington
1995-1996 MaryLou Johnson
1996-1997 Cathy Arellano
1997-1998 Doreen Laurie
1998-1999 Mike Mastandrea
1999-2000 Betsy Heathcock
2000-2001 Kay Gabrysch
2001-2002 Barbara Loomis
2002-2003 Betty Buchner
2003-2004 Mary Beth Kepper
2004-2005 Mary Wendt
2005-2006 Kathy Wood
2006-2007 Angela Hayes
2007-2008 Tammy Fife
2008-2009 Kay Lynn Renfro
2009-2010 Ronnye Cowell
2010-2011 Debbie Melton
2011-2012 Debbie Nordstrom
2012-2013 Denise Cochran
2013-2014 Shelly Wayne
2014-2015 Susan Angell
2015-2016 Lisa Dalton
2016-2017 Darla Mansfield
​2017-2018 Tracey Anderson
2018-2019 Dana Blair
​2019-2020 Patty Henson
​2020-2021 none - virtual convention
​2021-2022 Marla Valk
​2022-2023 jon Fisher
​2023-2024 Holly Knight

Director of the Year

1990-1991 Kim Burge
1991-1992 Betty Buchner
1992-1993 Cindy Russell
1993-1994 Cathy Arellano
1994-1995 Sonya Clay
1995-1996 Betsy Heatcock
1996-1997 Debbie Melton
1997-1998 Mary Beth Kepper
1998-1999 Angela Hayes
1999-2000 Patty Henson
2000-2001 Patti Otwell
2001-2002 Ronnye Cowell
2002-2003 Mitzi Phillips
2003-2004 jon Fisher
2004-2005 Denise Cochran
2005-2006 Meredith Watassek
2006-2007 April Swenson
2007-2008 Stephanie Renfrow
2008-2009 Ally Provenzano 
2009-2010 Nika Carter
2010-2011 Stephanie Lyle
2011-2012 Cyndi Vaughn
2012-2013 Elaine Randolph
2013-2014 Kelli Woodruff
2014-2015 Cristina Singleton
2015-2016 Araceli Lopez
2016-2017 Darby Boyd
​2017-2018 Eve Robinson
​2018-2019 Holly Lyons
​2019-2020 Kim Cardwell
2020-2021 non-virtual convention
​2021-2022 Melissa Reed Page
​2022-2023 Stevie McCall
2023-2024 Shelby Young-Polansky

Distinguished Service

2007: Sandy Morton, Debbie Nordstrom & Joyce Pennington
2008: Sondra Schaaf, Patricia Cherry & Maisie Temme
2009: Nika Carter & Sheila Taylor
2010: Connie Anglin
2011: Kelly Branham,  Debbie Shope,  CR Pennington & Tina Hudgens
2012: Tom Waggoner &  Julius Gordon
2013: Susan Angell-Gonzalez  & Suzanne Hutchins
2014: Sylvia Navarro
2015: Elizabeth Sanchez-Lopez
2016: Tracey Anderson  & Renee Stripling
2017: jon Fisher & Sandy Hinton
2018: Rebecca Barber, Lisa Fortenberry & Gracy Vela   
​2019: Kim Burge & Becky Crackel
​2020: Keith Moravits & Debbie Moravits
​2021: none- virtual convention
​2022: Wendy Hankins
2023: Kristine Copeland, Ginger Jarosek & Audra Taylor
​2024: Donna Lane

Dance Educator of the Year

2015-2016: Jackie Aguirre
2016-2017: Karen Searles
2017-2018: Heather Iovine
​2018-2019: Ronelle Eddings
​2019-2020: Karla V. Canamar-Hardaway
​2020-2021: None - virtual convention
​2021-2022: none selected
​2022-2023: Kelley Morgan
2023-2024: Gabrielle Aufiero