Texas Music Teachers Association

TMTA Teacher Awards

TMTA Teacher of the Year is awarded for the highest service to and representation of MTNA, TMTA, and the music teaching profession in addition to an excellent record in the teaching profession.  

TMTA Award for Outstanding Pre-College Teaching Achievement is awarded for outstanding success in teaching at the pre-college level in music performance, composition, theory, history, or any combination.  

TMTA Award for Outstanding Collegiate Teaching Achievement is awarded for outstanding success in teaching at the collegiate level in music performance, composition, theory, history, or any combination.

Local Associations are encouraged to nominate candidates for the following awards. All nominees must be members of MTNA and TMTA. An award of $600 is presented along with a plaque at the annual TMTA Convention. TMTA members may be nominated in only one category each year. Local associations may submit only one teacher nomination per category. No recipient may receive more than one of these awards in their lifetime.  

Deadline: April 1 (Nomination form can be found on the Local President's Management Bar)

 TMTA Teacher of the YearPre-College Teaching AchievementCollegiate Teaching Achievement
2024Dr. Richard Fountain, NCTM, LubbockDr. Christina Long, PlanoIlonka Livia Rus, Katy
2023Carol Crisp, NCTM, Dallas (pictured)Paula Wong, NCTM, Austin (pictured)Dr. Bradley Bolen, NCTM, Waco (pictured)
2022*Dr. Roy Wylie, NCTM, Houston George Variames, Plano Dr. Lesley McAllister, NCTM, Waco 
2021Susan Paradis, PlanoSarah Alexander, NCTM, KellerLibby Vanatta, NCTM, Rockwall 
2020Fredrica Phillips, PlanoDr. Saida Kafarova, AustinDr. Ann Milliman Gipson, NCTM, Fort Worth
2019Mary Loy, The WoodlandsShearon Horton, NCTM, AustinDr. Luis Sanchez, Rockwall
2018Rick Valentine, IndependentJeannie DeArmond-Henselman, AustinCourtney Crappell, NCTM, Pearland
2017Allen Long, RichardsonAlex McDonald, PlanoDr. Leslie Spotz, Stephenville
2016Naulene Pittman, Grand PrairieRosalie Levant, RichardsonDr. Andrew Parr, Nacogdoches
2015Rebecca Landreth, NCTM, ConroeElizabeth Gutierrez, NCTM, San AntonioDr. Mark Puckett, Abilene
2014Teresa Crawford, NCTM, PlanoCatharine Lysinger, DallasTimothy Hester, Houston
2013Debra Hadfield, NCTM, PlanoCarolyn Savko, ArlingtonKiyoshi Tamagawa, NCTM, Austin
2012Andrea Warren, NCTM, HoustonA J Collins-Thompson, NCTM, San AntonioJohn Solomons, Arlington
2011*Heather Rathnau, NCTM, Missouri CityRuth Ann Hoffman, DuncanvilleDr. Robert Roux, Houston
2010*Diane Delk, ConroeRodolfo Morales, HoustonDr. Brad Beckman, Dallas
2009Sharon Callahan, The WoodlandsMonica Song, DallasSergio Ruiz, Huntsville
2008Susan Conner, NCTM, WintersAlicia Shirley, HoustonKasandra Keeling, NCTM, San Antonio
2007Tena Hehn, NCTM, DallasAnn Rivers Witherspoon, HoustonRuth Jane Holmes, NCTM, Lubbock
2006Lydia Bratcher, NCTM, WacoMarcy McDonald, DallasSam Holland, NCTM, Garland
2005Sherry Frush, NCTM, Abilene*Edwin Key, NCTM, OlneyCarol Leone, Dallas
2004Celinda Hallbauer, NCTM, Belton*Jan Mark Sloman, RichardsonJane Abbott-Kirk, Waco
2003Karen Wallace, HoustonSam Wong, PlanoJoyce Jones, Waco
2002Ronald Bennett, NCTM, OdessaJulia Amada Kruger, AustinTamas Ungar, Fort Worth
 *Ken Newsome, Duncanville  
2001Carolyn Adams, NCTM, DallasEduardo Benavides, AustinSophia Gilmson, Austin
2000*Roberta Gober, AustinJanelle Schlaudt, NCTM, San AngeloPamela Paul, Denton
  Ken Thompson, San Antonio 
1999*Karen Austin, Dallas*U’Nita Sweatmon, DentonCarolyn True, NCTM, San Antonio
1998^Joy Finley, NCTM, Midland*Lois Nielson, DallasJohn Owings, Fort Worth
1997Melody Allen, NCTM, San AngeloDonna O’Steen Edwards, DallasMartha Hilley, NCTM, Austin
1996*Frances Key, NCTM, OlneyColleen Brashear, DallasRuth Morrow, NCTM, Wichita Falls
1995Laurel Ince, NCTM AustinShirley Anderson, NCTM, AbileneLora Deahl, Lubbock
1994*Louise Christensen, Forum*Priscilla Heard, BeltonDavid Renner, Austin
1993Patricia Banks, BrownwoodApril Brahinsky, NCTM, San AntonioTimothy Woolsey, San Marcos
1992*Ella Louise Burba, NCTM, AustinGena Cannon, Dallas-RichardsonBetty Mallard, Austin
1991*Ruth Bunch, Fort WorthJohn Weems, Forum-HoustonNancy Weems, Houston
1990*June Leondar, NCTM, Fort Worth*Erkalene Ousley, WacoFredell Lack, Houston
1989Ruth Pitts, NCTM, Waco*Carolyn Jones Campbell, Dallas*Janice K. Hodges, San Antonio
1988*Patricia Powers, NCTM, Beeville*Louise Bianchi, DallasRoger Keyes, Waco
1987*Thelma Hearn, HoustonEugenia O’Reilly, Dallas*Amanda Vick Lethco, Austin
   *Betty Ruth Tomfohrde, Houston
1986Yvonne Reynolds, Dallas  
1985*Mary Loving, NCTM, Corpus Christi  
1984*Jo Ann Fargason, El Paso  
1983Philelle McBrayer, Tulsa, OK  
1982*Andrew Mihalso, NCTM, San Antonio  
1981*John Paul, Huntsville  
1980*Janet McGaughey, Austin  
1979*Cecile C. Meskimen, Lubbock  
1978*Arthur H. Feese, Dallas  
1977*Winifred Bedford, Dallas  
1976*Blaise Montandon, Corpus Christi  
1975*Donald W. Bellah, Fort Worth  
1974*Isabel Scionti, Denton  
1973*Donald E. Johnson, Houston  
1972*Mildred Klein, Lubbock  
1971*J. Wilgus Eberly, Denton  
1970*Jack W. Hendrix, Odessa  
1969*LaRue Loftin Conlon, San Antonio  
1968*Jimmie Mansfield, Corsicana  
1967*George Anson, Fort Worth  
1966*Elizabeth Morris, Amarillo  
1965*Mary Dunn, Lubbock  
1964*E. Clyde Whitlock, Fort Worth  
1963*Grace Ward Lankford, Fort Worth  
1962*Paul Van Katwijk, Dallas  
*Deceased