PLAINVIEW, TX — When Jordan Hickerson Boegner graduated from Wayland Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in piano performance, she dreamed of building a career helping students discover the joy of music. Seven years later, that dream has led to national recognition.
Boegner recently earned the designation of Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) through the Music Teachers National Association, one of the nation's leading professional organizations for music educators.
For Boegner, the certification represents more than a professional credential. It marks another milestone in a journey that began in Wayland’s practice rooms and classrooms and continued through the challenges of launching a career during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After graduating from Wayland, Boegner moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and began working to establish her own piano studio. Like many young professionals, she soon found her plans disrupted by the pandemic.
“When I first moved to DFW after graduating from Wayland, I worked at Hobby Lobby full time while attempting to start my own piano studio,” Boegner said. “COVID made starting a new business more complicated, so I ended up only teaching two students in person and one online.”
Rather than abandoning her goals, Boegner continued pursuing opportunities to grow as a musician and educator. She enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she served as a graduate assistant and taught piano through the seminary's music academy. During that time, she also met her future husband while they were serving together at a church.
Since completing a Master of Music in Church Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Southwestern, Boegner has built a successful teaching career and now teaches piano full time at two music academies in the Fort Worth area.
The national certification process challenged her to reflect deeply on her teaching philosophy and methods.
“Despite the pressure of deadlines, I enjoyed clarifying my teaching philosophy and methodology, and the rigorous process challenged me to grow as an educator,” she said.
Boegner said she remains grateful for the foundation she received at Wayland.
“I am grateful for the wonderful instruction I received from Dr. (Richard) Fountain, Dr. (Kennith) Freeman and the other faculty at Wayland,” she said. “My time at WBU was truly a blessing.”
Fountain, dean of Wayland's School of Creative Arts and professor of piano, said Boegner's accomplishment reflects the same dedication and commitment she demonstrated as a student.
“Jordan was an outstanding student whose love for music was matched by her desire to serve others through teaching,” he said. “This national certification recognizes the excellence she has worked hard to achieve, but it also reflects the character, perseverance and professionalism she has demonstrated throughout her career. We are tremendously proud of her.”
Today, Boegner views the certification not as a finish line, but as motivation to continue growing as an educator.
“I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to complete my certification through MTNA,” she said. “I plan to continue to develop my pedagogy for the sake of my students and the glory of God.”
For Fountain, that commitment to lifelong learning is exactly what makes the recognition meaningful.
“Great teachers never stop learning,” he said. “Jordan's dedication to developing her gifts and investing in the next generation of musicians is a wonderful example of what we hope to see in all of our graduates.”
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