Things you must do this month

NOV. 2

MAGIC SHOW

Watch Tommy

Terrific spontaneously take over his Uncle Fumpernutter’s magic show after he disappears. This family-friendly magic performance is geared toward children in preschool and elementary school.

Bookmarks at NorthPark Center, 8867 North Central Expressway, 214.671.1381, dallaslibrary.org, free

NOV. 4

FOLK FESTIVAL WINNERS

Winners of the 2016 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition will serenade attendees. Songwriters Addie Brownlee, Rachel Laven, Ben de la Cour, Emily Scott Robinson, Joe Shields and Justin Farren all are part of the evening’s lineup. Uncle Calvin’s, 9555 North Central Expressway, 214.363.0044, uncle calvins.org, $15-$18

NOV. 5, NOV. 12

NATIVE TEXAS PARK TOURS

Traverse trails surrounding the George W. Bush Presidential Center during the final two Fall Native Texas Park Tours. Spots are available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

George W. Bush Presidential Center, 2943 SMU Blvd., 214.200.4300, bushcenter.org, free

STAFF PICK

NOV. 5

FALL CARNIVAL

K ramer Elementary

PTA’s largest annual fundraiser offers games, concessions and prizes from 2-6 p.m. Proceeds contribute to resources and trips for students.

Kramer Elementary, 7131 Midbury Drive, 972. 794. 8300, kramerelementary. org, $5

NOV. 12

ROCK THE SMILE 5K

Smile for a Lifetime is having its inaugural 5K on the Northaven Trail. Proceeds from the event go toward the nonprofit. Northaven Trail Center, 7900 Northaven Trail, northaventrail.org, $20-$40

NOV. 15

SENIOR EXPO

Organized by the Jewish Community Center, the 15th annual expo offers resources geared toward active seniors. The fair includes entertainment, food and fitness classes from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven Road, 214.739.2737, jccdallas.org, free

NOV. 17 MARUJA MALLO LECTURE

Learn about Spanish painter and ceramicist Maruja Mallo, whose gender and exile to Argentina led her to be far less well-known than her counterparts Salvador Dalí, Federico García Lorca and Luis Buñuel. Anna Wieck, of the National Gallery of Art in Washington

D.C., analyzes the artist’s life and works during this presentation.

Meadows Museum, 5900 Bishop Blvd., 214.768.2516, meadowsmuseumdallas.org, free

By EMILY CHARRIER

Chris Bayer is an educational jack-ofall-trades. He’s done a little bit of everything, from teaching to coaching to administration. Most recently, he’s been in the middle school circuit, but he’s an old hand at the high school level.

“It has been a full circle of education,” he laughs.

When the option arose this year to head Hillcrest High School as the new principal, the eclectic educator enthusiastically threw his name in the ring. Having taught at the Preston Hollow campus previously, he was eager to get back to the school that always has felt most like home.

“I don’t say this half-heartedly. I truly mean this, I feel like I am coming home,” Bayer says. “Hillcrest just feels like where I belong.”

So, why were you inspired to return to Hillcrest High?

Hillcrest just has something special. It really does, anyone who has walked the campus will tell you that. It’s a goodsized school, with just under 1,200 students. That’s small enough that I can learn the kids’ names and who they are. That makes my job more fun. I was excited to come back to the high school level. High school students don’t just do what they’re told. High school students ask “why?”, and that’s great. That challenges me as an educator and an administrator.

Tell us a bit about your educational experience?

So, six years ago I was a teacher at Hillcrest. I was in the English department, so I taught a little bit of everything. I was also involved in coaching. I helped coach football and baseball and wrestling. I like to get involved in everything. In the summer of 2010, I took an opportunity to join the administration in the Grand Prairie Independent School District, as an associate principal at

City View Antique Mall

Regan Middle School. Later I became the principal there.

Is there a home-team advantage of having worked at Hillcrest prior?

Definitely, there are several teachers and faculty members who were there when I taught that are still here. I’ve built good trust with them. So that gave me the confidence that we can knock it out of the park together.

What are your first-year goals?

I want to get the word out about Hillcrest. When one of our kids does something great, I want everyone to know that’s a Hillcrest kid. We have so many amazing kids doing interesting things. I want these kids to have a passion for this campus. The way we do that is by having the adults have a lot of passion for what they’re doing on the campus. Our immediate goal is to be the best school in DISD.

How do you do that?

We’re implementing a lot of student-focused programs. We’re involved with Project Lead the Way, which is all about the sciences. We’ve brought back our biomedical program that students love. We built in a “flex” period for 39 minutes where the students can meet and decide where to go and what to work on. We’re trying to give students options and make it attractive for families. In the district, we see a drop off when kids change schools, from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school. We lose kids to the private schools every time they switch. We want to give them as many reasons as we can to stay in DISD.

Hillcrest is also in the process of launching an International Baccalaureate (I.B.) program. How is that going?

We’re in year three of the application process. This year, I.B. officials will visit our campus and evaluate our program, then provide feedback. We’ll have another year to implement that feedback. So far we’ve had 11 teachers go through the training program. We should be certified by the 2018-19 school year. We’re working really closely with Franklin Middle School next door, who is also going through the I.B. process.

Why is that important?

We want to make it an option for the feeder pattern; so kids could start in sixth-grade and continue their I.B. education all the way through high school. That’s how we keep families in the districts. The interest in that program is strong. I have been to a few parent meetings in my few weeks here and have spoken to some Franklin parents. They always say, “My kid is all about I.B.; how do you plan to expand that at Hillcrest?”

The school is also getting a major facelift, right?

Yes. We’re in the middle of a big renovation, which is needed. There’s something to be said for curb appeal. It makes a difference. The interior is great for learning. I’m not sure our building shows that on the exterior. The front façade will be changed. We have an office that’s just poorly located, so we’re moving that. We’re rebuilding the gym and locker rooms. We’re also expanding the courtyard, which is where all the kids hang out. We’re trying to get rid of all of the portable classrooms on campus and will be building another 29-31 classrooms.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

I’m really excited to be back at a high school. It’s a totally different experience. A high school is like a living, breathing thing. I love the hive energy that a high school has. There’s something going on all the time, at almost any hour of the day. It’s been nothing but fun so far. I’m excited to be back somewhere I consider to be home.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

BY KATHY TRAN