Debera Thompson is the General Music Teacher at Bayview Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At Bayview, she teaches around 600 students, ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade, in Chorus and Orff Ensemble.

Originally from Kansas, she realized her calling was to be in the warmth and by the ocean. Since moving to South Florida, she has become actively involved in the Florida Music Education Association, Florida Elementary Music Education Association, Broward County Elementary Music Teachers Association, and South Florida Orff. She has presented professional development sessions at both the chapter and state levels on a range of topics, including children’s literature in the classroom. In 2020, Debera was selected as an Emerging Leader in Florida. She earned her Orff Schulwerk Certification from Southern Methodist University in 2022.