Mentor Feature: Deyanira “DeeDee” Chavez

Kids’ Orchestra Mentors oversee the care of all of our students. They are responsible for the operation of the site and oversee arrival, snack, homework and dismissal time.

Meet Deyanira “DeeDee” Chavez!

DeeDee has been a mentor with Kids’ Orchestra for three years and currently serves are mentor at Westdale Heights Academic Magnet and Bernard Terrace Elementary.

Tell us about YOU!

My name is Deyanira Chavez, better known as DeeDee (most people can’t pronounce my first name). I was born and raised in Texas and played clarinet in the school band from 6th through 12th grade. I have lived here in Louisiana for 5 years now. I am a proud mother of four musically talented and intelligent teen girls. Yes, four girls, so never a dull moment in my house. Jasmine,18, has played violin, piano, and guitar, Haley, 15, plays trumpet, and my twins Kassidy, 13, plays saxophone and piano, and Kaitlyn,13, plays clarinet and tenor saxophone.  On top of supporting my girls musically, and scholastically, I have also been a soccer mom for the last nine years.  There is nothing like supporting your children while they are doing something they are passionate about. Before working for Kids’ Orchestra, I was a stay at home mom. Learning to balance work and family has been a challenge, but is very rewarding.

What have you gained from working at Kids’ Orchestra?
Patience! Working with so many different children with different temperaments and different needs is a challenge. Learning to be patient has helped me grow as a person and as a parent.

How do you balance your career at Kids’ Orchestra and family?
Balancing work and family is another challenge, however, having a driving teenager alleviates some of my after school errands with my other girls.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?
For being an only child raised in a quiet household, I filled my house with four noisy daughters, 2 loud dogs, 1 loud African Gray parrot, 2 turtles, and 7 snakes. So, patience is a virtue!

First and foremost, I wanted to be a mother. I have filled that wish 4 times over. They keep me on my toes and I wouldn’t change it for the world!