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

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

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
​2019-2021
​2021-2022

Meredith Watassek
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

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

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
none inducted
Tammy Fife

Prissy Sliva                                         Judie Dunn
Gladys Keeton
Mike Mastandrea
Joyce Pennington             
Beverly Skipper                                 Donna M Haas
Pat Clark
Betsy Heathcock                               Peggy Moree Smith
Laura Davis


Mary Lou Johnson                             Mary Beth Kepper
Betty Loter






​Linda Lewis Hall

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

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

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

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

Distinguished Service

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

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

Dance Educator of the Year

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

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


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