Melody Villegas has been the director of choirs at A.C. New Middle School since 2015. Under her direction, the Knight Choir has tripled in size with a tenfold increase in tenor-bass singers. The A.C. New Tenor-Bass Choir performed at TMEA as an invited choir in 2023 and a demonstration choir in 2026. Villegas has served as the TMEA Region 3 Middle School Vocal Division Coordinator and has been named both Teacher of the Year and Mesquite ISD Outstanding Mentor. She is an active clinician and judge, and holds professional affiliations with TMEA, TMAA, TCDA, and ACDA. She is the co-author of Habits of a Successful Middle School Choir Director, published by GIA Publications. Before teaching in Mesquite ISD, Villegas taught at Ted Polk Middle School in Carrollton, TX, after graduating from the University of North Texas in 2009.