Debra's Biography

Debra Hadfield, NCTM is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. In September 2019, she and her husband moved from Plano, Texas to Mena, Arkansas.              Debra was honored in 2013 as the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) Teacher of the Year. Previously, she served as the TMTA Vice President of Student Activities and as the President-Elect, planning the TMTA Convention for two years. Debra initiated the TMTA Convention Projects and the TMTA Music Appreciation Online Program. She is a Past President of Plano Music Teachers Association and served six years on the Music Teachers National Association Certification Board.             She founded Music Amigos, Inc., a nonprofit organization to develop pianists to perform church services in underserved communities. During July of 2013 and 2014, some of Debra’s high school students taught piano lessons in Ciudad Vieja, Guatemala.              Debra graduated with a degree in Fine Arts and Communications from Brigham Young University. She is the first female recipient of the BYU Outstanding Young Alumni Award. She also received the Mary Egging Award, presented to one individual annually for service to American families. She has published numerous newspaper and magazine articles and two books.                               Her students have received state honors, including the First-Place recipient of the TMTA Whitlock Memorial Scholarship Award in 2009 – TMTA’s highest student honor. Her students were also First-Place recipients of the TMTA Student Affiliate Participation Award in 2019, 2010 and 2009 - TMTA’s highest student award for student participation in various TMTA activities. Her students have received First Place in the TMTA June Leondar Chamber Music/Ensemble Contest, and she had Winners and Outstandings in the TMTA Publication Contest every year from1998-2019. Her students have won composition contests, including MTNA/TMTA, Student Affiliate TMTA, Music in Motion, and Piano Explorer.            Debra loves activities with her seven children, their spouses, and her grandchildren.  She enjoys pottery, writing, family history, traveling, swimming, and riding her bike.