Lisa Thompson

Lisa Thompson, Owner and Executive Director, established Step By Step in 1985 with the mission to educate and train dancers to appreciate dance as an art form and to develop high self-esteem, discipline and self-confidence that can be carried to other activities and professional settings. Lisa obtained her Bachelor Degree in Science and in Dance, and her Master of Science in Counseling and Student Personnel Administration from Kansas State University.
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She is a native of Kansas City, Kansas and began dancing under the instruction of Ms. Irene at the Academy of Performing Arts. She is a former professional dancer for the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and a former cheerleader for the Kansas City Kings, now known as Sacramento Kings (NBA). She later became the Director of Kansas State University’s premier collegiate dance teams, the Pridettes and the Wildcat Dancers.
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Outside of the studio, Lisa serves as the Senior Director of the TRiO Pre-College Programs at UT Arlington. She supervises the Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound Math and Science programs. She has over 36 years of experience in academic and student affairs.
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Lisa is involved with the Texas Association of TRiO Programs, Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs (SWASAP), and the Association of Veterans Upward Bound Programs (NAVUB).  Lisa has provided consulting and etiquette training for a variety of organizations in the DFW area and has choreographed numerous Debutante, Coming of Age, Beautillions and Cotillions. Lisa is a charter member and active, associate lifetime member of the Arlington Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She is also a life member and former chapter president of the Xi Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Most recently, she was recognized as the 2018 Community Connections Award Recipient from the Arlington Foundation for Excellence in Education, the 2019 Hidden Treasure Award Recipient from the Texas National Women of Achievement Inc., the Lifetime Achievement Award for 28 years of service with UT Arlington and the Distinguished Eagle Award from the National Association for Veterans Upward Bound. Her volunteer, mentorship an civic service stretches across the Dallas Fort Worth area in organizations such as United Way, Arlington Martin Luther Day Jr. Celebration Committee, Inc. (president), Arlington YMCA (board member) and many of UT Arlington’s student associations (mentor/advisor) to name a few.
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She has one daughter, Erica Thompson, and four fur babies: Ivy & Sage, whom she rescued and Tawnie & Coco, which was passed down from her mother.