Mrs. D'Ortona

Madison D'Ortona joined Round Rock ISD in August 2020 with six years of teaching experience spanning Garland, Manor, and Del Valle. Mrs. D'Ortona served as head director for the Texas Elites at International Leadership of Texas - Garland for three years; head director of Varsity, JV, Majorettes and Pep Squad at Manor High/Senior High School for two years; and was recently the dance educator for Dailey Middle and Del Valle Middle Schools. Mrs. D's teaching is as unique and quirky as she is; focused on supporting movement and student brain development through dance principles, and grounded in culturally responsive teaching methods. Mrs. D loves to question the "why" in how we teach as dance educators and always pushes for innovation.

Mrs. D attended Texas State University where she earned her BA in Public Relations, and BFA in Dance: Injury Prevention. Originally, Mrs. D was a part of the inaugural BFA Dance Performance and Choreography program, but had to adjust her degree due to injury.

While at Texas State, Mrs. D’Ortona was a four year Texas State Strutter, where she served as Line Captain for two years and Line Officer for one. Mrs. D’Ortona toured with the Strutters through Chile, Spain, performed on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, at multiple NBA basketball games, and was featured on an episode of Friday Night Lights.

Throughout her career, Mrs. D’Ortona has learned from and worked with former Rockette, Heather O’Hara; the “first lady of drill team,” Barbara Tidwell; founder of Showmakers and former Strutter director, Susan Angell; former Strutter director, Tammy Fife; former Rangerette, Stacy Danielson; Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo dancers and Royal Winnapeg principal dancers Eugene Slavin and Alexandra Nadal; Erick Hawkins dance company members Michelle Nance and LeAnne Smith; as well as Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, Pat Stone.

Fun Facts About Mrs. D!

❤️ Mrs. D married her college sweetheart in March 2015 ❤️

🐾 Mrs. D has a 6-year old German Shorthaired Pointer Mix doggie named Einstein 🐾

🚲 Mrs. D does not know how to ride a bike 🚲

👯 Mrs. D's best friend is Mrs. Vaughn (the dance director at Cedar Park Middle School) 👯

💃 Mrs. Wassmuth and Mrs. D were on the same dance team in high school! 💃

👯 Mrs. D's oldest friendships go all the way back to her 6th grade dance class! 👯

🍞 Mrs. D loves to bake bread 🍞

⭕ Mrs. D is a three-time award winning aerialist specializing in Aerial Hoop/Lyra ⭕

🍕 Mrs. D is obsessed with Athleta, Lush, and the perfect cheese pizza 🍕