McCurdy High School English and drama teacher Dee Dee Heffner began her teaching career at McCurdy during the 1971-1972 school year. She taught freshman and senior English that year, served as a junior class sponsor (and a sponsor for McCurdy's first prom), and directed Our Town in March, 1972.
After three years back in her home state of Ohio, and the birth of her two older children, Ms. Heffner returned to New Mexico and McCurdy in 1975. She taught English and directed plays for a number of years, beginning the Advanced Placement English program at McCurdy in the 1986-87 school year. From 1994-1999, she served as McCurdy's director of church relations. In the fall of 1999, she returned to teaching English and drama, again directing a children's play each fall and a major drama production each spring.
Ms. Heffner has been a United Methodist home missionary since 1975 and is grateful for the faithful prayer and financial support of a number of United Methodist churches and individuals across the United States. Dee Dee Heffner's husband Dennis is also a home missionary. He is the pastor of the Valley View United Methodist Church, the director of Group Ministry of Northern New Mexico, and the executive director of Amigos del Valle, a senior citizens' ministry helping to keep about 250 older adults in their own homes.
The Heffners are the parents of three adult children, all of whom are McCurdy alumni: Todd Heffner (1990), Heidi Heffner Chavez (1993), and Andrew Heffner (1998). In addition, they are grandparents to four precious grandsons: Nathaniel, Hayden, Gavin, and Liam.