Queen Isabella ISABELLA "Chavela" PINA-HINOJOSA was born in Laredo, Texas, one of nine
children. She graduated from Martin High School and came to Denton in 1975 to attend
NTSU/UNT. She received a teaching degree and worked at public schools in
Carrollton/Farmer's Branch and Denton Independent School Districts as a Newcomer
and as a bilingual education teacher. She worked her way up and became a district
administrator to better serve English Language Learners from across the state by being
instrumental in legislative policy changes. She received a Doctorate of Education in
2007. At present she is an Adjunct Professor and Supervisor of student teachers at
Texas Woman's University, as well as a grant evaluator at the University of Texas at
Arlington.
Since her arrival to Denton, she became active at the inception of city and district
cultural celebrations and instrumental along a small group of leaders at Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church in the foundation of a Spanish mass.
Her interests have been photography and music. She enjoys singing and playing guitar
along with her husband Blas Daniel Hinojosa. She has sung at the Vatican in Rome, at
the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, televised at San Fernando's
Cathedral in San Antonio and various Cathedrals across the state. During Pope John
Paul II's visit to San Antonio, Texas, in 1987, Isabella was part of the chosen choir for
His Holiness.
Dr. Pina-Hinojosa was president of the League of United Latin American Citizens in
2011, and Scholarship Chair for four years where she helped raise funds for
scholarships awarded to Hispanic students of the Denton school district.
Isabella and Blas Daniel Hinojosa have been married 26 years, have four children, one
daughter-in-law, three son-in-laws and six grandchildren.