Hockaday Spring 2023: Dr. Laura Leathers

DR. LAURA LEATHERS

Hockaday’s Next Eugene McDermott Head of School

Believing in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, The Hockaday School is committed, within the context of its educational mission, to build and maintain an inclusive community that respects the diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, family composition, socioeconomic status, and talents of its members. This commitment to diversity and inclusion is vital to educating and inspiring Hockaday students to lead lives of purpose and impact as resilient, confident women.

Hockaday Magazine

A Publication of The Hockaday School

More than a century of individuals involved with the Hockaday community—students, faculty, staff, alumnae, parents, grandparents, and friends—have a positive impact on one another and the world in which we live.

Hockaday Magazine, published biannually by The School’s Communications Office, strives to articulate that impact—in the past, in the present, and in planning for the future. The magazine also seeks to highlight the activities of The School and its alumnae, as well as to help define and analyze topics facing our entire community.

EDITOR

Sara Stoltz

Director of Communications

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sally Hudspeth ’87

Associate Director of Communications

DESIGNER

Laura Webb Creative Manager

CONTRIBUTORS

Laura Baker

PERSPECTIVES

When I was a child, I loved writing. I clearly remember a notebook with lines on the page’s bottom and space to draw at the top. I spent hours crafting stories and illustrating them. I would then leave the notebook on the kitchen table for my mom, who would read my writing, leave me notes, and ask questions about my stories. However, as I got older, writing was something I only did in school in response to a prompt or for an essay assignment. Writing became something I had to do rather than something I wanted to do, and the creativity was lost along the way. As a biochemistry major in college, writing was not a big part of my daily work. That changed in graduate school as I worked on my doctoral dissertation. I remember writing for hours, struggling to put complex scientific data into words and sentences that others could understand.

Nowadays, my writing seems to fall into two distinct categories – handwritten notes on beautiful stationery and messages written on computers and phones, where I tap away on a keyboard. As an adult, writing handwritten notes brings me the most joy. I love writing a message to say thank you, congratulations, or thinking about you, and I relish the idea that mail landing in someone’s mailbox might cause them to smile or brighten their day. I love receiving notes in the mail or on my desk and value this method of connecting with others.

As the Interim Eugene McDermott Head of School, I was not expecting writing to be such a critical part of my job, but it is. I spend much of my time drafting emails to faculty, staff, parents, and other community members. Throughout the semester, I spend hours writing feedback for my Chemistry students and organizing my thoughts and remarks for upcoming events. Writing often helps me develop and clarify my thoughts and ideas as I write and rewrite before pressing send on an email or reading my remarks to a group.

As you read this issue, you will learn about the multifaceted writing program at Hockaday, and how it spans across all disciplines and divisions. Our dedicated faculty have made it a priority to teach our girls the art of communication, which starts as soon as they step foot on campus.

A few highlights from this issue include:

• Learning about the incredible projects and work our faculty and staff undertook over the summer

• Cheering on our Upper School athletes at SPC weekend

• Hearing about Hockaday’s writing program across divisions

• ...and more!

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have.

My best,

Dr. Laura Leathers

Eugene McDermott Head of School

ON CAMPUS

MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA TPSMEA HONORS

Congratulations to these seven Middle School Orchestra students, who won playing positions with the 2023 Texas Private Schools Music Educators Association Middle School Honor Orchestra! Sophia Zhou (Class of 2028), Kayla Zhang (Class of 2028), Reagan Nguyen (Class of 2027), Sudha Kodem (Class of 2027), Jada Rice (Class of 2027), Christine Park (Class of 2027), and Vivian Zhou (Class of 2027). Among them, Sophia Zhou ranked number one in Violin and Sudha Kodem ranked number one in Viola. These talented students will continue the Hockaday Middle School Orchestra tradition of serving as the Concertmaster and/or the Principal Violist of TPSMEA Middle School Honor Orchestra each year since 2003.

POETRY OUT LOUD

Congratulations to Anjy Fadairo (Class of 2025), Asha Gudipaty (Class of 2023), Jessica Chung (Class of 2024), and Ava Shipp (Class of 2024), who were finalists in Hockaday’s Poetry Out Loud competition! Ava (far right) was named the winner and represented Hockaday well by finishing second in the state competition in Austin.

TMEA HONORS

Emma Zhao (Class of 2024) was selected into the Texas Music Educators Association Region 20 Wind Ensemble. Out of a field of over 100 clarinets, Emma ranked first in both her auditions. Through these auditions, Region 20 seats three bands for their Clinic and Concert. Emma advanced to the Area round of the TMEA All-State Band auditions in January.

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR CANDIDATES

Class of 2023 members Isabel Bhasin, Jayna Dave, and Jordan Hanna were invited to apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program. Semifinalists and scholars are chosen in late spring. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.

DEBATE TEAM HONORED

JUNIOR QUALIFIES FOR MATH OLYMPIAD

Yoyo Yuan (Class of 2024) qualified for the USA Mathematical Olympiad based on scores from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination.

She is one of 558 qualifiers who will go on to compete against the top mathematics teen minds in the country. The Olympiad is a long-form, proof-based test over two days; each day consists of three questions to be completed within 4.5 hours.

Following qualifying season, 10 Upper School members of Debate headed to the State Championship in Houston in March. The students included (above left): Sanika Agarwalla (Class of 2024), Dithyae Devesh (Class of 2025), Aarnah Kurella (Class of 2024), Sherry Long (Class of 2023), Eesha Neunaha (Class of 2023), Evita Nino (Class of 2024), Mili Pathak (Class of 2023), Ayla Sumer (Class of 2023), and Meera Thamaran (Class of 2023). The team of Sherry Long, Meera Thamaran, Mili Pathak, Ayla Sumer, and Eesha Neunaha made it to the final round and received second place in the state! The team of Evita Nino, Sanika Agarwalla, Diya Hegde, Dithyae Devesh, and Aarnah Kurella made it to the round of top 16. Members of the Debate team also advanced to the Elite Eight Round of IPPF Global Debate Competition and are eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize. Hockaday’s team is the only team from Texas to advance to this round. Team members include

(above right): Aarnah Kurella (Class of 2024), Diya Hegde (Class of 2024), Evita Nino (Class of 2024), Sidney Murray (Class of 2024), Sanika Agarwalla (Class of 2024), and Ariana Wang (Class of 2024).

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WIN NASA TECHRISE COMPETITION

Congratulations to Class of 2028 students Kavya Chava, Aashu Shankar, Ameya Indaram, Anya Jain, and Caroline Hayes who are one of 60 winning teams in the nation in NASA’s TechRise competition! The team developed an idea for a self-sustainable greenhouse that can support vegetation and will begin to meet weekly with members from NASA to build their model, which will be sent into space using a high-altitude balloon.

ROWING FOUNDER VISITS

Alinda Hill Wikert ’66 met with Head Rowing Coach Will Forteith and Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers this winter to share the early history of Hockaday Rowing. Alinda, with the support of former Head of School Liza Lee, started Hockaday Rowing in the fall of 1993 and coached the team in its inaugural season. After describing how she brought the sport to Hockaday, Ms. Wikert met with the team captains and some of the current rowers who are in the middle of off-season training. Hockaday Rowing will celebrate its 30th season this fall thanks to her efforts!

A.P. COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM AWARDED

Hockaday was one of 209 schools to earn the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science. Schools honored with this award have expanded girls’ access to AP computer science courses.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Students from Hockaday and St. Mark’s School of Texas continued a longstanding partnership this spring to construct their 16th home with Habitat for Humanity. Class of 2023 members Lola Isom and Josie Sinwell worked with St. Mark’s students to organize volunteers from both schools and raise an additional $50,000 to contribute to Habitat for Humanity.

HARTMAN FELLOW

Rachel Simmons, author of the New York Times bestsellers Odd Girl Out, The Curse of the Good Girl, and Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, spoke to parents, faculty, and students in January. The Hartman Fellow speaker is graciously provided by The Fanny Harris Hartman and Ruth Lindsley Hartman Fellowship Endowment Fund at The Hockaday School. Established in 1964 in memory of Fannie Harris Hartman ’42 by Mrs. Leon Harris, Mr. Leon A. Harris, and Mr. Joseph Hartman as a memorial to a lovely and lively spirit and a tribute to the School she loved, the fellowship brings a speaker to Hockaday annually.

FILLING THE SHELVES

Middle and Upper School families donated food in January to fill the shelves at the Herbert Marcus Elementary Food Bank. Hockaday students created the Marcus Mart last summer, which provides nonperishable food items to students and families battling food insecurity.

DECA STUDENTS HEAD TO STATE COMPETITION

Seventeen Upper School students involved in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) competed at the District 11 Career Development Conference in January and qualified for the Texas State Career Development conference in March. DECA is an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the world. Students included: Yanet Bisrat (Class of 2024), Diya Cadambe (Class of 2025), Madeleine Chen (Class of 2024), Phoebe Chen (Class of 2024), Siri Cherukuri (Class of 2024), Jessica Chung (Class of 2024), Dithyae Devesh (Class of 2025), Celine Ebert (Class of 2025), Tarini Gupta (Class of 2024), Maddie Isaac (Class of 2026), Emma Lin (Class of 2025), Eleanor Murchison (Class of 2026), Anika Proddutoor (Class of 2024), Bridget Qiu (Class of 2024), Charlotte Schultz (Class of 2025), Caroline Stevens (Class of 2024), and Julia Zhao (Class of 2024).

HONORING NEW CITIZENS

During a Lower School assembly, students learned what it means to be a citizen of the United States and honored three community members: Alicia Diaz, Dining Services; Paula Massaro, Lower School Teaching Assistant; and Sarah Mbabazi, Lower School Teaching Assistant (not pictured) who recently became U.S. citizens.

MATHCOUNTS TEAM PLACES

THIRD

In February, the Hockaday MathCounts team competed in the Dallas Chapter competition and placed third. Competition team members included: Jenny Chu (Class of 2027), Anusha Chowdhary (Class of 2027), Leila Hulme (Class of 2027), Shreya Kirumaki (Class of 2027), Kaitlyn Ouyang (Class of 2027), Ira Sirohi (Class of 2027), Christina Zhu (Class of 2027), Kavya Chava (Class of 2028), Michelle Cheng (Class of 2028), Aashu Shankar (Class of 2028), Sophia Zhou (Class of 2028), and Deetya Dinesh (Class of 2029). Leila Hulme, Christina Zhu, and Kaitlyn Ouyang qualified for the Countdown Round and quick-on-the-buzzer Leila Hulme placed fourth overall.

HOCKADAY NAMES NEXT HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

In March, Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers announced that Michelle Goldsmith had accepted the Head of Lower School position. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position, as well as a familiarity with all things Hockaday. During her time at Hockaday, Michelle has occupied many

roles, including Assistant Head of Lower School, Technology Integration Specialist for Lower School, Third Grade Homeroom Teacher, and Summer School Director. She has led the Cornerstones Committee and previously received the Prentiss Grant. “Michelle will do a wonderful job in this new role, as she cares deeply about educating our youngest Daisies,” said Randal Rhodus ’97, current Head of Lower School. “Having worked as a teacher, administrator, and parent volunteer at Hockaday throughout the last 30 years, Michelle understands the culture and people of Lower School and Hockaday, and she will advance innovative, interdisciplinary programming that supports the social and emotional wellbeing of every child. Michelle is a studentcentered educator who is thoughtful, supportive, and approachable. I look forward to working with her in this new capacity, and I can’t wait to see her lead our incredible Lower School faculty!”

Ms. Goldsmith is an independent school graduate, having attended Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth for 13 years. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Texas Christian University and a Master of Education in Special Education from University of North Texas. She has a daughter, Paige ’17, who recently graduated from University of Virginia, and a son, Reid, who attends Wake Forest University.

She will remain in her current role as Assistant Head of Lower School through the end of this school year and begin her new duties this summer.

“I am thrilled she will become part of our Leadership Team as she is an outstanding educator,” said Dr. Leathers. “Please join me in welcoming Michelle as our next Head of Lower School!”

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS AT MBL

In March, Upper School students headed to Woods Hole, Massachusetts for a session at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). The lab is dedicated to scientific discovery – exploring fundamental biology, understanding biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Students included Hanna Asmerom (Class of 2024), Dixey Piper Auer (Class of 2024), Aria Bhatki (Class of 2024), Alia Chand (Class of 2023), Natalie Grove (Class of 2023), Tianxin Xie (Class of 2023), Emily Loftus (Class of 2023), Emmy Madden (Class of 2024), and Emery Stehel (Class of 2024).

TPSMEA HONORS UPPER SCHOOL MUSICIANS

The Hockaday Orchestra is proud to announce their eight Texas Private School Music Educator Association’s All-State Band and Orchestra members. These students were selected from a competitive audition process and attended the TPSMEA All-State Clinic and Concert in January. Hockaday orchestra members were Angelina Dong (Class of 2024), Christina Dong (Class of 2024), Callie Li (Class of 2026), Emma Lin (Class of 2025), Julia Pan (Class of 2025), and Emma Zhao (Class of 2024). Hockaday Seniors Madeline Chun and Riley Yuan were selected for their fourth consecutive year (above right).

SPELLING BEE WINNERS

Congratulations to the 2023 Hockaday Scripps Spelling Bee Champion, Carolyn Mitchell (Class of 2027). Runners-up were Natalia Salem (Class of 2027) and Yuna Son (Class of 2028). Carolyn will go on to represent Hockaday at the Dallas County Private School Bee!

SENIOR NAMED COCA-COLA SCHOLAR

Zoya Haq (Class of 2023) was announced as one of the 150 recipients and joins the 35th class of Coca-Cola Scholars. Haq is one of 12 scholars from Texas and the only Dallas recipient this year. High school seniors across the country were selected for this extremely competitive award. 150 students were chosen from an applicant pool of over 91,000. The students were chosen for their superior skills in leadership, service, academics, and positive affect on the community.

VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYER SCORES 1,000TH POINT

Ashna Tambe (Class of 2024) scored her 1,000th point during a game in January, a first for a Hockaday basketball player!

LOWER SCHOOL AUTHORS

Natalia Velasco (Class of 2031) and her sister Sofia (Class of 2034) collaborated on an alphabet book, AI Alphabet, that is now available on Amazon! The girls worked with their father on an AI artwork generator to produce images that matched the alphabet sentences they came up with. The result is a creative and fun way for young readers to learn their letters. The duo hopes to create more books around things like colors and numbers, and said the hardest part was coming up with the different sentences featuring each letter of the alphabet.

ALUMNA SPEAKS AT ASSEMBLY

In February, Upper School welcomed back Nikky Phinyawatana ’96, founder and CEO of Asian Mint Restaurant Group, to speak with Anya Ahuja (Class of 2025) about her experiences as an entrepreneur at an Upper School assembly.

JUNIOR SELECTED FOR YOUTH NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM

Jaden Thomas (Class of 2024) was selected for the U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team, which traveled to England in February to play two matches against England. Jaden scored a goal in the first match! “It was a life-changing experience,” said Jaden. “It was a blessing and an honor to represent my country at the highest level!”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In February, Second Graders visited a display created by Valencia Mack Yarbrough ’77, which featured Black Hockaday alumnae. She spoke to the class about her experience as one of the first Black graduates from Hockaday.

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS HONORED

Congratulations to Hockaday’s student publications, which were honored at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Crown Awards in March! The Fourcast, Hockaday’s newspaper (above left); Vibrato, Hockaday’s literary magazine (above right); and Emporio, Hockaday’s digital business magazine (left), all won Silver Crown Awards.

BOAT DEDICATION

In March, Hockaday Rowing dedicated its newest racing shell, “Title IX: 1972–2022,” named in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the federal law that requires educational institutions to provide equal opportunities to men and women, including athletics.

LUNAR NEW YEAR

Lower School students learned about different traditions of Lunar New Year during their Lower School gathering in January and enjoyed a very special Lion Dance!

ALUMNA SPEAKS AT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ASSEMBLY

Hockaday welcomed Brittani CarterDurant Hite ’05 to campus to speak to students about making an impact in the world. Ms. Hite focused on impact and related that to MLK’s legacy, wanting to inspire future generations of changemakers. “It’s important to honor the holistic legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. because he faced adversity and ultimately death, in order to catalyze equitable change,” she said. “Unless we acknowledge his struggle and the things he fought to change, we put ourselves at risk of forgetting history, and that’s when it tends to repeat itself.”

MODEL U.N.

Members of Hockaday’s Model UN club competed with 4,000 students from around the world at the Harvard Model UN Conference in Boston in February. The whole team worked hard as they researched and formulated solutions to address global problems and debated responses to crises simulations. A special congratulations goes to Elena Zeballos (Class of 2024) who received an Honorable Mention award for her role as Stede Bonnet in the Golden Age of Piracy historical crisis committee.

SENIOR NAMED DISNEY DREAMER

Elle Chavis (Class of 2023) was selected as a Disney Dreamer, one of only 100 students nationwide. She attended the Disney Dreamer Academy in March, a four-day event at Walt Disney World Resort, where she was able to interact with Disney Cast Members, celebrities, industry experts, and community leaders through sessions designed to inspire students to dream big.

CHOIR STUDENTS AWARDED

This year, 14 members of the Upper School Concert Choir were selected and invited to sing with the Treble and Mixed All-Region choirs in the Texas Private School Music Educators Association All-Region and All-State festivals. Additionally, seven of these students advanced and were selected to sing in the All-State Choir Festival in January. All-Region: Georgia Fuller (Class of 2025), Layo Isaacs-Sodeye (Class of 2024), Aiswarya Koratala (Class of 2025), Neha Kumar (Class of 2023), Charlotte Lauten (Class of 2024), Megan Manning (Class of 2023), and Mia Matthews (Class of 2025).

All-Region and All-State: Erin Antes (Class of 2024), Zoe Bennett (Class of 2026), Jessica Cai (Class of 2024), Caraday Martin (Class of 2023), Aneeka Misra (Class of 2026), Jessica Moran (Class of 2026), Laya Ragunathan (Class of 2024).

ARTISTS RECOGNIZED

Emily McShane (Class of 2025, left) and Ariana Wang (Class of 2024, right) were recently recognized by YoungArts. Ariana is a Finalist for Short Story Writing and is eligible for qualification as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Emily won Merit-Level Recognition for her animated film submission. Award winners are recognized for the caliber of their artistic achievement and join 702 of the most accomplished young visual, literary, and performing artists from throughout the county.

Middle School Robotics Soars to New Heights

Hockaday’s Middle School Robotics program was established more than 10 years ago to provide students with an opportunity to learn important skills ranging from teamwork, research, engineering design, leadership, and programming. In 2013, Laura Baker joined the Hockaday community as a teacher and the lead coach for Middle School Robotics. Over the past 10 years Mrs. Baker’s motto has been steadfast: If they love it, they will learn it, and their passion for STEM will lead to more opportunities in the future.

In August, 30 Middle School students are assembled into five diverse teams with varying ages, skill levels, and interests. These groups join forces to collaborate for an average of eight hours a week in preparation for the North Texas FIRST LEGO League (FLL) season. These competitions are all-day Saturday events that include 2.5-minute robot games and judging sessions. For the game, teams build and program robots that can autonomously accomplish missions (or tasks) to earn maximum points. Teams also present to a panel of judges their innovative project prototypes, robot coding, robot design, and outreach efforts. Two FLL Alumni Hockaday teams currently have patents pending on their previous Middle School project designs.

“Robotics has helped me understand how to effectively manage my time, work with people in all grade levels, and learn important life skills through engineering principles,” said Sudha Kodem (Class of 2027).

Competition season begins in December with the North Texas Qualifiers. The top 120 teams (out of a pool of 500) then move on to the North Texas Championship. The top 54 teams (out of a pool of 1,600) then advance to the Texas State Championship. At State, the top five teams are awarded placement at national and international championship tournaments. In the past six FLL seasons, Hockaday has earned one of these top-ranked positions five times.

In the 2022–2023 season, four teams excelled throughout the season, each earning a place at the State Championship. There is no other school in the state of Texas that had four teams at State.

The season winnings included a spectacular array of awards and accolades. Might-ochondria members Kavya Chava (Class of 2028), Miranda Chen (Class of 2027), Michelle Cheng (Class of 2028), Ameya Indaram (Class of 2028), Sara Sidi (Class of 2029), and Connie Zhao (Class of 2028) won Second Place Champions twice, the Motivate Award, Fourth Place Robot Performance, and placed in the top five teams at the State Championship. They earned a spot at the American Robotics Open Championship in May. Daisies Energized members Aiza Ali (Class of 2027), Sudha Kodem (Class of 2027), Joyce Jin (Class of 2028), Evie Lewis (Class of 2028), Cate Strom (Class of 2028), and Kayla Zhang (Class of 2028) won Engineering Excellence, First Place Core Values, Second Place Robot Performance, and Rising AllStar. Flower Powered members Cecilia Chen (Class of 2027), Siena Ebert (Class of 2027), Virginia Epperson (Class of 2029), Margaret Hohenshelt (Class of 2027), Kashmira Kuloor (Class of 2027), and Naisha Randhar (Class of 2027) won Second Place Champions, First Place Robot Design, and Best Spirit. Power Pandas members Jenny Chu (Class of 2027), Hannah Park (Class of 2029), Natalia Salem (Class of 2027), Sophia Salem (Class of 2027), and Ira Sirohi (Class of 2027) won Second Place

Champions, Second Place Core Values, and First Place Innovation Project. Coach Laura Baker won the FLL Coaches Award twice this season.

The Middle School Hockaday Robotics program has become a driving force for countless students who garner a tremendous passion for STEM through the process. Stella Wrubel (Class of 2024), who participated in First Lego League in Middle School, said, “Middle School robotics gave me the space to explore my interest in STEM in a hands-on setting, allowing me to find all the possibilities that are available.”

Her mom, Lucy Wrubel, agreed. “The teamwork and leadership opportunities are unparalleled,” she said. “Stella reflects on lessons learned presenting, helping, leading, following, and working with her robotics teams, even to this day.”

“Laura Baker’s devotion, enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge is a stunning example of how a dedicated teacher can impact not only the girls who are participating, but countless others who are inspired and mentored by them,” said Roberta Oyakawa, veteran parent of the program.

FEEDING THE NEED

Club educates students, serves homeless in Dallas

By Bennett Trubey (Class of 2024) | Arts & Life Editor

From packing snack bags on her own as a Sixth Grader to hosting an event where fellow students packed more than 500 bags, Lola Barnard (Class of 2024) shares her love for service with her community. Barnard founded Feeding the Need – a studentrun non-profit – her freshman year. The club works to educate students about the homeless community in Dallas and provide opportunities to create an impact.

“I’ve always been super passionate about community service,” Barnard said. “I started helping the homeless in Dallas when I was in Middle School.”

Beginning in Sixth Grade, Barnard made food and snack bags, gave out blankets, and even started a GoFundMe in her neighborhood. “When I got into Hockaday, I thought it was the perfect environment to make that into something bigger,” Barnard said.

The club participates in holiday-themed service events hosted by Family Gateway – a homeless organization and shelter – and provides students with chances to connect with and serve the families there. In the first semester, students could participate in a Halloween trick-or-treat event, a holiday cookie decorating session, Family Gateway’s holiday store, and an abundance of donation drops.

Barnard also has organized on-campus opportunities for service, such as a homelessness education discussion, Halloween costume donations, and cookie decorating sessions.

“I want to provide everyone with more resources to better understand who they are helping,” Barnard said. “I think it’s really important to encourage people to volunteer and educate them so they know what they’re doing and why it matters. That has a bigger impact on the person.”

Sophomore Erin Yuan, the communications chair for Feeding the Need, joined her freshman year after coming across Barnard’s stand at the club fair. “What really aligned with me in the mission statement was the want to help people in our community and actually make change,” Yuan said.

“I think it’s really important to encourage people to volunteer and educate them so they know what they’re doing and why it matters.”

— LOLA BARNARD (Class of 2024)

As communications chair, Yuan is responsible for spreading awareness of the club’s mission and getting students to sign up for service opportunities. “I took a leadership position because I wanted to get more involved in the club, and I think the club has a really good, positive message,” Yuan said.

As for its plans for the second semester, Feeding the Need will be hosting a Valentine’s Day service project on Feb. 12 similar to last year’s – during which students made more than 500 decorated snack bags to be donated – and will participate in Family Gateway’s Spring Carnival in March.

“I’ve already seen Feeding the Need have such an amazing impact,” Barnard said, “especially on the people who are in the club.”

SWIMMER BY DAY, DJ BY NIGHT

Tarighi’s passions take her from pool to playlist

By Alexandra Dassopoulos (Class of 2024) | Staff Writer

Published in The Fourcast, February 2023

Freestyling with her mixes and in the pool, Leila Tarighi (Class of 2024) is not only a rising DJ, but a talented swimmer, practicing more than 20 hours a week. This season, the swim team has adjusted to some changes, with 6 a.m. practice times at St. Mark’s and new coaching.

Personally, Tarighi has overcome adversity of her own with struggling to distinguish herself from her swimming performance. She said time factors create a pressure on her perception of success and define her as a swimmer. “You feel like your success in the sport is directly associated with your performance and the times that you put up,” she said.

She has combated this by focusing on her passion for the sport and why she swims. “In reality, once you can be kind of emotionally mature and realize there’s a difference, I think that helps you like swimming more,” Tarighi said. “That makes you more motivated because you’re not as concerned with your performance. You’re more concerned about the actual action of swimming, and it keeps you grounded, in a sense.”

Although swimming is an individual sport, Tarighi said Hockaday emphasizes fostering a team, which has also helped her surmount these mental challenges. “I think surrounding yourself with people you care about and who can remind you of why you love the sport also plays a huge role in staying motivated,” Tarighi said.

While reinforcing herself with support from team bonding, Tarighi’s role as a DJ has also come to the table. Tarighi highlighted the team’s new plaid suit and “war paint-esque” Sharpie designs they make on each other, which have both built up confidence and unity for Varsity Swimming. However, she also emphasized that before meets, music in the locker rooms has been essential in fostering this close-knit team.

Taking on a leadership role, Tarighi has used her DJ skills for the team, hyping up the swimmers with her SoundCloud mixes and playlists. These musical talents have created an upbeat environment for the swimmers, in the midst of such an individualist and competitive sport. Tarighi has also discovered an unsuspected interplay between DJ-ing and swimming.

“Music is obviously a medium for curating vibe,” Tarighi said. “Being able to curate a vibe in a meet setting is an unlikely

place, but it’s essential. Music has the ability to connect people, especially when they’re stressed – and swimming can be stressful.”

Not only does Tarighi’s passion for music create a relaxing environment before meets, but the two mindsets of a zoned-in swimmer and “chill” DJ can apply to each other. “I think honestly, I perform better when I’m relaxed and I’m having fun,” Tarighi said. “Keeping that DJ mindset honestly works better for me and my performance. I also think that being able to DJ gives my brain the opportunity to kind of release some of the stress from zoning in during swim.”

Yet, Tarighi also translates her swimmer focus to DJ-ing, particularly when transitioning songs. “It’s nice to distinguish the two into separate activities because that allows me to switch between lenses more efficiently,” Tarighi said. “I have the toolbox for both, and I can, depending on the situation or the circumstance, be more surgical with my energy.”

Using this versatility, Tarighi has achieved many of her goals at meets. So far, she has placed first in almost every 100 meter breaststroke this season and dropped seconds off of her time with her club team. Focusing on technique, Tarighi said she also altered her pull outs, or her push from the wall, and improved her freestyle, which will be valuable during relays.

4TH ANNUAL

The Fourth Annual Color Run event was a huge success! Community members of all ages participated in the one-mile run/walk, enjoyed a performance by the Hockaday Drill Team, honored our Senior Track and Field athletes, and celebrated with food trucks, popsicles, and more!

UPPER SCHOOL PRESENTS: HARLEQUINADE

This winter, Upper School Dance performed Harlequinade, a charming ballet based in the commedia dell’arte style with delightful characters and colorful sets and costumes. All five dance ensembles transported the audience through the story of Harlequin and his quest to find true love with Columbine!

UPPER SCHOOL MUSICAL

Hockaday’s Upper School Fine Arts Department and students from St. Mark’s School of Texas presented “The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy” in March.

SPC CHAMPIONSHIPS

In February, Hockaday’s Swimming and Diving, Basketball, and Soccer teams ended their seasons on high notes, and represented Hockaday proudly!

SOCCER

Soccer capped off an incredible season with a thrilling 2–1 victory in the title game against St. John’s to WIN the SPC 4A tournament for the third year in a row. This senior class has never lost an SPC game in their careers! Ambyr Baker (Class of 2023), Bronwynn Blair (Class of 2024), Sarah Connolly (Class of 2023), JoJo Ma (Class of 2023), and Ayla Sumer (Class of 2023) were named All-SPC.

BASKETBALL

finished sixth in SPC 4A, playing three hard-fought games, including a 75–55 victory over St. John’s in the second round. Ashna Tambe (Class of 2024) was named All-SPC.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Swimming and Diving placed third in SPC, with second-place finishes in the 200-yard medley relay, diving, and 100-yard breaststroke. Dixey Piper Auer (Class of 2024), Haley Chu (Class of 2024), Emily Loftus (Class of 2023), Mary Grace Martin (Class of 2023), and Leila Tarighi (Class of 2024) were named All-SPC.

Basketball

Kevin Leathers, Ella Jagger (Class of 2023), and Dr. Laura Leathers, Eugene McDermott Head of School

A New Era

atDR. LAURA LEATHERS, EUGENE MCDERMOTT HEAD OF SCHOOL, AND RANDAL RAUSCHER RHODUS ’97, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL, LEAD THE WAY

IN DECEMBER, ON BEHALF OF THE

HOCKADAY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH COMMITTEE, NICOLE GINSBURG

SMALL ’91, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ANNOUNCED THAT DR. LAURA LEATHERS HAD BEEN NAMED THE NEW EUGENE MCDERMOTT HEAD OF SCHOOL, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2023.

The selection followed an extensive nationwide search for a new Head of School conducted along with the School’s search partner, RG175. The comprehensive process included the careful review of nearly 200 potential candidates serving at top schools across the United States.

“We are thrilled to name Dr. Leathers as the next Head of School,” said Ms. Small. “I believe Laura is truly the best of both worlds. She is both an innovative thinker with a long and impressive career as an educator and administrator, as well as a thoughtful and strategic leader who has gained a deep appreciation of Hockaday’s long and impactful history in educating girls to live lives of purpose. Laura’s demonstrated commitment to girls education, her collaborative leadership style, her deep STEM expertise, and her passion for lifelong learning will empower her to lead Hockaday and continue the School’s momentum into the future.”

Dr. Leathers brings a strong background in STEM to the role, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and French from Lafayette College. She studied abroad at the Université de Grenoble and earned a Doctorate in Pharmacology from the University of Vermont. Her educational career reflects her passion for science culminating in her Ph.D. dissertation, which examined the mechanisms that regulate blood vessel contractility and their relationship to various pathological states. Dr. Leathers also conducted postdoctoral research as a Fellow at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and earned an Education Specialist degree with a concentration in Administration and Supervision from Union University.

Before joining the Hockaday community, Dr. Leathers served in various roles over 13 years at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee, an all-girls school serving students from age two through grade 12. She served as an AP Chemistry teacher, Science Department Chair, STEM Director, and Assistant Head of School during her tenure. In addition, she was the

Assistant Varsity Cross Country Coach and led the Middle School Robotics Club. While at St. Mary’s, she was responsible for growing the independent study program and developing new course offerings, including electives in Introduction to Engineering and Solids Modeling and 3D Design. St. Mary’s honored Dr. Leathers with the Fannie Warr Service Award, presented to an individual who demonstrates a high degree of loyalty, unselfish service, and love for the school.

“Dr. Leathers deeply appreciates The Hockaday School’s mission, dedication to academic excellence, and strong sense of community,” said Ms. Small. “She is committed to attracting and retaining an excellent faculty and encouraging professional development. Dr. Leathers is an outstanding communicator and administrator who is excited about leading The Hockaday School. And in addition to her Head of School role, I know the girls will be thrilled to know that Dr. Leathers will continue teaching a Chemistry section to Upper School students at Hockaday.”

“Dr. Leathers, who is one of the most exceptional teachers I have ever had the pleasure of learning from, has a gift for making even the most challenging subjects, like chemistry, engaging,” said Karla Cervantes (Class of 2023). “When Dr. Leathers is teaching, she delivers material with a contagious passion that inspires and motivates her students to succeed in her class. She takes the time to get to know each of us individually. Dr. Leathers possesses a combination of intelligence, empathy, and passion that makes me confident she will excel in the role of Head of School and will lead us to new levels of excellence.”

“DR. LEATHERS POSSESSES A COMBINATION OF INTELLIGENCE, EMPATHY, AND PASSION THAT MAKES ME CONFIDENT SHE WILL EXCEL IN THE ROLE OF HEAD OF SCHOOL AND WILL LEAD US TO NEW LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE.”

— KARLA CERVANTES (CLASS OF 2023)

“We conducted a comprehensive, national search because we wanted to find the best person for the job,” said Mandy Ginsberg ’88, Search Committee Chair. “And what we found was that the best person is already here. With more than 20 years of independent school experience, Laura is a proven leader and has an outstanding reputation in the independent and girls school world. Dr. Leathers already knows Hockaday and knows what matters most. She leads by example, is committed and respected by faculty and staff, is a strategic thinker, and brings integrity and character every day she comes to work. I am incredibly confident in her ability to lead Hockaday into the future for years to come.”

“This is both a tremendous honor and a great opportunity, and it is my goal to ensure that our girls are in a position to succeed today and in the future,” said Dr. Leathers. “I am a passionate believer in educating girls and young women to be capable, confident contributors to their communities and the world. And true to Ela Hockaday’s vision, I believe there is no better place to do this than at The Hockaday School.”

Get to know DR. LEATHERS

WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO HOCKADAY?

I’ve spent most of my career in independent girls schools and have always admired Hockaday and the School’s work from afar. I love the commitment to academic excellence and the Four Cornerstones, which guide all we do here. In addition, Hockaday’s mission outlines clear goals for our School and our students. I was drawn to this institution because of its vision to “develop resilient, confident leaders who are educated and inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.” That is my hope for all our girls, and I am fortunate to work and lead a school that strives to fulfill this mission every day.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I was born and raised in New York, and my mother is a teacher and I think that has had a significant impact on me and shaped

my career choices. I am married to Kevin, who coaches Middle School Cross Country and Track here at Hockaday. My oldest daughter, Jessica, is in her third year of pharmacy school. Andrew is a senior at the University of Tennessee, and he’ll be enrolling in their Master of Accountancy program this fall. Ella is a senior here at Hockaday and will attend Texas A&M this fall (Gig ’em!). In addition, I have two stepchildren; Abby, who works in marketing and public relations for a small jewelry company in Nashville, and Sam who lives and works in Memphis.

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN EDUCATOR? DID YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT CAREER GOAL, AND IF SO, WHAT LED YOU TO EDUCATION?

I always thought that I would be an educator, but never thought it would be in the PK–12 space. I imagined myself as a university professor. However, in the sciences, these positions often include a significant research component. As a postdoctoral researcher, I did not fall in love with the research piece of the job and began to look elsewhere. From the moment I set foot into an all-girls independent school classroom, I knew that I had found something very special. I loved the relationships in the school community –

between teachers and students, between the girls, and among the faculty and staff. It is amazing to see our girls in the Lower School grow and develop into the confident graduates that we send off into the world, and even better when they come back to visit us as alumnae and update us on their lives.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS HOCKADAY’S STRENGTHS, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE?

Without a doubt, Hockaday’s strength is our people – our faculty and staff, our parents, our students, and our alumnae – who all make this such a special school and community. In addition to our people, we are fortunate to have incredible resources available to us as a school, from our beautiful 88-acre campus to our buildings and classroom spaces, and our endowment that allow us to offer our students an outstanding educational experience. Every day, I am thankful to all of those who were a part of this institution in the past, including Ela Hockaday and our former and current Trustees, who worked so hard to build this school into what it is today and cared for it over the past 110 years.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB SO FAR?

There are so many parts of my job that are my favorites! Time in the classroom with students is high on the list, as is brainstorming and dreaming about what could be with our leadership team members. I love working through complicated puzzles with the team and developing solutions that best serve our students. I love the fact that every day is different, the work is challenging and complicated and multifaceted, and we get to have lots of fun along the way celebrating our incredible students and their accomplishments.

COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR HOCKADAY TO FOCUS ON? WERE THERE ANY LESSONS LEARNED THAT CHANGED THE WAY WE EDUCATED OUR GIRLS?

For me, the most important thing for us to focus on is building community and providing our faculty, staff, students, and parents opportunities to come together to visit and celebrate with one another. The pandemic had a profound impact on our ability to spend time together in person and disrupted so many of our shared experiences. It is important for us to connect and enjoy each other’s company and get to know one another more deeply than we do during the school day.

We learned so much during the pandemic about education and how we can best use technology to enhance how we teach our

girls. First and foremost, we confirmed that there is no substitution for in-person learning. Our girls learn best when on campus, with their peers and teachers. There is so much more to the school experience than just the transfer of information, and these parts were significantly impacted during the pandemic. However, we did learn how powerful a tool online learning can be – and continue to welcome alumnae and speakers from all over the country and world into our classrooms on a regular basis. In addition, the pandemic taught us how important it is to be flexible and adaptable, and reinforced the importance of experimentation. If something works, great. If not, let’s pivot based on what we learned and try again.

HOW HAS BEING A PARENT OF A CURRENT

STUDENT SHAPED YOUR LEADERSHIP?

Being the parent of a current student, Ella Jagger (Class of 2023, provides me with an additional lens as I think through decisions and our work here at Hockaday. As we discuss ideas and consider different paths forward, it is natural to imagine outcomes not only as a school administrator, but also as a parent. It is both fun and exciting to “see” Hockaday through her eyes and understand her experiences and perceptions as we consider our choices and decisions.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO CONTINUE AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, AND WILL YOU CONTINUE THAT THROUGHOUT YOUR TENURE?

I’d like to remain in the classroom as a science teacher for as long as they’ll have me! I love my time in the classroom and enjoy watching our girls learn. Our classrooms are such special places, and it is a joy to experience the learning that takes place over the course of the school year. I enjoy watching students figure things out and work through new concepts and ideas to understand the world around them. As a chemistry teacher, I get to interact with our students and get to know a small subset of our student population in a way that I wouldn’t otherwise. I get to see girls on good days and on bad days when they are stressed and when they’re excited about something. This knowledge informs my decision making on a regular basis and provides a unique perspective on the student experience.

ASIDE FROM EDUCATION, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER INTERESTS OR PASSIONS THAT DRIVE YOU?

Outside of school, I love endurance sports—specifically running. I enjoy the challenge of putting in physical work towards accomplishing a goal, especially when there are no guaranteed outcomes. I also enjoy cooking, reading (especially non-fiction!) and doing the Sunday crossword puzzle from the New York Times.

IN DECEMBER, DR. LAURA LEATHERS ANNOUNCED THAT RANDAL RAUSCHER RHODUS ’97 HAD ACCEPTED THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL POSITION, BEGINNING IN JULY 2023.

Mrs. Rhodus earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Comparative Area Studies from Duke University and a Master of Arts from Columbia University, Teachers College. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position, having served the School in many capacities during her tenure. Mrs. Rhodus was a Lower School faculty member for nine years and has served as Head of the Lower School for the past 11 years.

In addition to her experience as an educator, she offers valuable perspective of Hockaday as an alumna, having attended the School for 12 years. In addition, Mrs. Rhodus and her husband, Keith, are the parents of three Hockaday students: Anderson (Class of 2027), Marue (Class of 2029), and Hettie (Class of 2032).

“I am thrilled she will take on new responsibilities on our Leadership Team this summer as she is an outstanding school leader,” said Dr. Leathers. “Randal is a committed teacher and administrator with a deep knowledge of all things Hockaday. Daily, she is committed to creating a nurturing environment for our students, helping students develop confidence and a love for learning. In addition, Randal has a long and deep relationship with the School; as an alumna, as a faculty member and an administrator, and as the mother of three current Hockadaisies. Randal brings deep experience working collaboratively with faculty, staff, trustees, families, students, and alums to strengthen communities—always keeping the needs of the students front and center. She has an outstanding record of building strong and lasting relationships and motivating those around her to be the best versions of themselves. I am incredibly excited and energized by the promise and potential of Randal as our next Assistant Head of School and can’t wait to work together on behalf of Hockaday.”

“RANDAL BRINGS DEEP EXPERIENCE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH FACULTY, STAFF, TRUSTEES, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND ALUMS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES ALWAYS KEEPING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS FRONT AND CENTER.”

— DR. LAURA LEATHERS

Get to know RANDAL RHODUS ‘97

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN EDUCATOR? DID YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT CAREER GOAL, AND IF SO, WHAT LED YOU TO EDUCATION?

When I was in First Grade at Hockaday, we were asked to write down what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote that I wanted to be either a teacher, a fashion designer, or the First Justice of the Supreme Court, so being an educator was also one of the careers I aspired to even in my first year as a Hockaday student. In Upper School, I was very involved in Hockaday’s community service program, and I spent much of my free time tutoring and volunteering at several elementary school and programs (Stephen C. Foster Elementary, St. Phillips School, and Mi Escuelita Preschools). This was one of my favorite parts of my Upper School experience and solidified my interest in working with children. Additionally, the topic of my junior year research paper explored the U.S. education system and examined the history and policies of special education and accommodations in the mainstream public school classrooms.

WAS THERE A CERTAIN TEACHER OR CLASS THAT INFLUENCES HOW YOU TEACH/LEAD?

I am a proud alumna of Hockaday, and I really owe my experience here for shaping who I am today. While I was in Lower School, I developed confidence in myself and learned how to be a leader. I attribute this to my teachers but also to Marion Crume, the Head of Lower School, who worked with me and others for assemblies. My Lower School teachers made a huge impact on how I felt about myself as a learner. The confidence that my teachers in Lower School helped me to develop allowed me to be a successful learner in Middle School and beyond. Similarly, the division heads and Heads of School during my time at Hockaday also gave me opportunities to lead as a student. Sometimes, all a child needs is an adult believing in them and seeing their potential before they even recognize it in themselves.

WHAT IS A GOAL YOU HAVE AS ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL?

My main goal is to help faculty and staff feel valued and supported and provide them with professional development that helps them be successful in the classroom.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL JOB?

This is my 20th year as an employee of Hockaday. I was a Second Grade teacher for nine years and Head of Lower School for 11 years. I work at Hockaday because I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the School, and I will serve in any role that will help advance this mission. As the Head of Lower School, I am already in a position to influence the lives of young women; however, becoming the next Assistant Head of School will afford me the opportunity to do this on a PK–12 scale while also supporting the faculty who make Hockaday “Hockaday.” I am also excited to work closely with Dr. Laura Leathers. For the past two years, I have worked with Dr. Leathers, and we work very well together. I am thrilled to partner and support her in developing and advancing exciting strategies, initiatives, and innovative programming and curriculum.

HOW HAS BEING A PARENT OF CURRENT STUDENTS SHAPED YOUR LEADERSHIP?

Even before I became a parent, I had already decided that my mission in life was to support girls and women. When I first found out I was expecting a girl, I did have a thought, “I know girls. Will I be a good role model and will I show her that I am leading a life of purpose?” I realized that I did this every day in my role as a teacher, but I wanted to make sure I did this for my children. For me, being a role model and leading a life of purpose means being my most authentic self, caring for others, having balance in my life, and pursuing and working towards my dreams. And although my children are young, I want them to see even at an early age, their mom working toward goals, being happy with her career, and making a difference in the lives of others. I also want to have a career where I can provide for my family and give my girls the education and experiences I had while growing up.

SECOND GRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Students learn how small changes can make a big impact

Second Grade’s Social Impact theme, The Environment, works its way through every aspect of the curriculum. “We focus on water, pollution, and recycling, and how we can make positive changes,” said Lauren Douglass, Second Grade teacher.

In Science, the girls investigate the properties of water by testing it and creating filters. “We talk a lot about how humans impact water and our environment,” said Ms. Douglass. “One thing we talk about is single-use plastic, and how we can get rid of it.”

The girls visit Trinity Audubon Center, where they learn to determine if water is polluted or not by observing what living creatures are present in the water. They get hands-on experience by looking through water samples and identifying organisms in the water, then discussing ways to help keep the water clean and reduce pollution. Families also join Science teacher Lara Guerra to help prepare the garden beds for fall planting.

This January, Second Grade students created Eye Spy bottles out of recycled objects for Mi Escuelita, a local non-profit preschool that provides children with a foundation of developmental and educational skills that will allow them to take full advantage of educational opportunities and succeed academically.

Later this spring through an Entrepreneurship unit, students work as a class to go through the entire process of starting a business by creating reusable grocery bags. The class learns about how to create a business plan and hears from a team of women at

PriceWaterhouseCoopesr about business loans and financial literacy. Madre Dallas, a design team run by Hockaday moms and alumnae, comes to talk about female-run businesses and how to make smart, sustainable products. Students learn how to create a brand, market a product, sell the product, and the different models of using business to create social impact. They create a logo that encourages consumers to recycle and use reusable bags rather than plastic, and then donate their profits to a local non-profit working to keep the environment clean.

“What I want the girls to understand is that they can already be doing things to help the environment,” said Ms. Douglass. “They can make positive impact right now. The other day, a girl had marker on her pants that wouldn’t come out – and we talked about ways to recycle pants and reuse them instead of throwing them away. The girls are thinking about conscious consumerism, and easy changes they can make that make a big difference.”

HANDS-ON LEARNING

Seventh Graders Head to We Over Me Farm

As part of their Social Impact theme of Food Insecurity, Seventh Grade students from Hockaday and St. Mark’s headed out to Paul Quinn College to learn about the school and We Over Me Farm in February. Students heard from Hockaday Board of Trustees member Dr. Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College and father of Sage Sorrell (Class of 2033).

Paul Quinn College is a private, faith-based, four-year, liberal arts-inspired college that was founded in 1872 by a group of African Methodist Episcopal Church preachers in Austin, Texas. The school’s original purpose was to educate freed slaves and their offspring. We Over Me Farm is a converted football field on campus located in a federally-recognized food desert, and has produced and provided more than 30,000 pounds of organic produce since its inception in March 2010, and no less than 10% of this produce has been donated to neighborhood charitable

Dr. Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, and Eugene McDermott Head of School

Dr. Laura Leathers

organizations. The rest supports community members, the College, and restaurants and grocers throughout Dallas.

In addition to providing fresh, healthy, affordable food options for its surrounding residents, the farm strives to improve communities throughout the Metroplex by providing hands-on educational experiences for youth and adults alike to promote healthy eating, improved food access, and environmental stewardship.

DISCOVERING OUR SUPERPOWERS

Eighth Graders Create Graphic Novels Featuring Recent Immigrants

Eighth Grade students participated in a Social Impact project through their English class this year called “Discovering Our Superpowers with McShan Elementary.” In November, students interviewed McShan Elementary students. “Because many of McShan students are non-native English speakers, these conversations offered them an opportunity to practice their English and build their confidence,” said Lauren Miskin, Middle School English teacher.

“We also want to welcome the McShan students and to make them feel at home in our Dallas community.”

The students were also encouraged to ask questions that would illuminate the McShan students’ “superpowers” – talents, skills, or traits that set them apart. Then, students worked in groups to design graphic novel pages celebrating each McShan student by creatively depicting his/her unique superpower.

After collecting pages from each group, Assistant Director of the Institute for Social Impact Laura Laywell published the pages in a book to present to the McShan students. “We wanted them to see themselves represented in an empowering, positive light,” said Ms. Miskin. In February, Ms. Laywell presented the final book to the students at McShan Elementary.

The project challenges Hockaday students to think further about the craft of storytelling. “In class, we study a graphic novel (Robin Ha’s Almost American Girl), and we spend a great deal of time analyzing Ha’s use of graphic novel techniques and literary elements,” said Ms. Miskin. “Through this project, students learned to apply the same sorts of visual and literary strategies that they study in Ha’s work. Additionally, this project advances the Social Impact Institute’s goals of empathy and community.

“By hearing these young people’s stories in an open dialogue, our students achieve a new level of understanding for the challenges they face.”

“Many of the students are recent immigrants, some are refugees. By hearing these young people’s stories in an open dialogue, our students achieve a new level of understanding for the challenges

they face. Since we also read several works about the refugee experience (including Ruta Sepetys’s Salt to the Sea and Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home), students are familiar with some of these issues, but hearing young people’s lived experiences firsthand offers a completely different vantage point.”

McShan students enjoyed seeing the final project. “My students loved the graphic novel,” said Arianna Zeb, McShan Elementary teacher. “It was the highlight of our class party. My students couldn’t stop talking about how amazed they were to see themselves in these stories.”

IMPACT-A-THON

In January, Middle and Upper School students participated in an Impacta-Thon. Students tried to solve the issue posed by the Vice President of Sustainability at AT&T, “How might we make young people as excited to recycle as they were about buying Taylor Swift tickets?” Through sessions including Empathy Building, Brainstorming, Storytelling, Research and Data, Creativity and Curiosity, each group created a short video with their idea, which AT&T will use in their efforts toward sustainability.

MAKING HISTORY COME ALIVE

Students in an Upper School History Course Learn How Personal Interpretations Provide a Window Into the Past

In Upper School’s Public Perspectives: U.S. History, students learn the essentials of U.S. history from the colonial period through the 20th century. More emphasis is placed on how national trends have shaped our state and local community; through local field trips, speakers, and research projects, students learn how community identity and purpose is forged through retellings of shared experience. The class is encouraged to see how Dallas interprets and publicly transmits its history, and to look at how changing interpretations have impacted the community.

As a Social Impact-designated class, it is built around understanding community through interpreting the past. “The girls are seeing real people engaging in historical interpretation in our city, which is providing real-world experience,” said Elizabeth Bennett, Upper School History teacher. “Listening to our speakers’ stories as well as reading accounts of individuals from the past has encouraged the girls to develop empathy.”

One key feature of this class is to emphasize how individual stories comprise the fabric of the historical record at both the macro and micro levels. For individuals, family history can help build personal identity. To explore this concept, students engage in an oral history project in which they interview an older family member to

find out how and why their family came to reside in Dallas. As part of the assignment, the class reflects on what they learned about their own history. Course curriculum emphasizes the personal experiences of individuals as a window into larger historical and societal trends which allows students to see how individuals – or groups – from different backgrounds sometimes have competing or opposing interpretations of the past.

“I want the girls to understand that the study of history is relevant to everyday life,” said Ms. Bennett. “I also want them to come away with useful transferrable skills including research ability, analytical thinking, building empathy, and leadership. These aren’t just skills for studying history; these are life skills.”

Last fall, the class welcomed Amber Sims, the CEO of Young Leaders Strong City. Ms. Sims spoke about her work to recover the memory of the once-thriving Black community north of downtown through her discovery of the B.F. Darrell School site, a historic Black high school that was demolished and forgotten in the early 1970s. She talked about the importance of remembering as a vehicle for community pride and cohesion, and to acknowledge past wrongs as the city moves forward.

“I want students to understand that history matters to the way individuals and communities define themselves,” said Ms. Bennett. “Most people think that learning history just means memorizing a set of known facts. In fact, real historical work is about interpreting facts and making a coherent explanation that helps us understand the past and serves to guide our path forward.”

In January, the class went on a Hidden History of Dallas bus tour with Don and Jocelyn Pinkard and visited the Freedman’s Cemetery and the State Thomas District, areas that were once the preserve of Black communities but have been largely erased by development and gentrification. Through relating their own stories as well as by providing historical context, the Pinkards helped students understand the segregation that existed in Dallas from the late 19th century through the Civil Rights era. Other field trips include the African American Museum of Dallas, the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House and Museum, and Old City Park. “Through visiting historic sites in Dallas and hearing from local speakers, students are learning how the presentation and interpretation of history impact how we think about the present,” said Ms. Bennett.

For the fifth year, the class completed a special project for Black History Month. This year, they focused on local history, and coordinated their project with Darin Jeans’s Sixth Grade U.S. History curriculum. Students investigated the Civil Rights movement in Dallas and will present their findings to the entire Sixth Grade in May. “Students in Mr. Jeans’s class will have been studying the national Civil Rights Movement, so this is an opportunity for the girls in my class to tell the story of how national concerns played out on a local level,” said Ms. Bennett.

MUSIC + HISTORY

Upper School Orchestra members prepared music to help students at David G. Burnet Elementary learn Texas history. The girls played pieces that reflected the rich cultural history of our state and answered questions about musical influences throughout Texas’s history.

Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers, Dr. Elizabeth Bennett, and Laura Day, William B. Dean Director of Service Learning and Executive Director of the Institute for Social Impact, accompany Upper School students on the Hidden History of Dallas tour

A Jet Set Fête

Hockaday Parents’ Association Benefit

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2023

The Hockaday community celebrated in March at the 2023 HPA Benefit, Daisy Destinations: A Jet Set Fête, benefiting Hockaday’s Athletics and Wellness Project!

A special thank you to our amazing Benefit Chairs, Charlotte Hudson Carter ‘99 and Jennifer Tobin, and their entire Benefit team for an incredibly successful and festive celebration.

Also, congratulations to our Sewell raffle winners, Mallory and Tyler Muse!

THE HOCKADAY ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION’S

The Hockaday Alumnae Association’s 2023 Sweetheart Tea in February was hosted by Gigi Hill Lancaster ’89 and Gigi Lancaster ’16. This beloved annual event honors Hockaday’s multigenerational families, alumnae in the Classes of 1935 – 1973, and Junior College alumnae.

LEGALLY PL AID PL AID

HOCKADAY ALUMNAE IN LEGAL PROFESSIONS

Hockaday’s 2023 HAARTS program, “Legally Plaid,” featured alumnae working in legal professions. Panelists included Monica Lira Bravo ’99, Founder and Managing Attorney, Lira Bravo Law; Katya Jestin ’87, Co-Managing Partner, Jenner & Block; The Honorable Anar Rathod Patel ’00, Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York / New York State Judiciary; and Amber Webb Sims ’03, Assistant Vice President, Senior Legal Counsel in Litigation for AT&T. The panel was moderated by Laura Day, William B. Dean Director of Service Learning and Executive Director of the Institute for Social Impact.

ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT

ABBIE RYAN MILLS ’05

Educator

Abbie Ryan Mills’s path to becoming an educator has been anything but linear. She attended Rice University and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, then worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for seven years. There, she worked within the Propulsion and Power Division and monitored the space shuttle’s fuel cells from Mission Control during the last eight shuttle missions (2009–2011) and then worked in research and development, doing proof of concept tests for Mars lander power sources.

“I really enjoyed my job, and especially my coworkers, but always felt that something was missing,” she said. “I spent a lot of time at work helping our external affairs office with public outreach engagement and even came back to Hockaday a few times as a HAARTS panelist to speak with students about STEM careers.”

She eventually decided to take the leap into teaching full-time and moved to central Virginia in 2016 to begin teaching at an all-boys, all-boarding school. She is now in her seventh year of teaching at Woodberry Forest School and has taught Algebra II, Engineering (an elective for Seniors), and a freshman problem-solving course.

“High school was such a transformative and nurturing time for me, and I loved the idea of being a part of that for someone else.”

For the past six seasons, she has also been the head coach and offensive coordinator of the JV football team and served as a dorm parent. She was recently appointed as Woodberry’s Assistant Headmaster for Academic Affairs and will step into this new role this summer.

While at Woodberry, she met her husband, who teaches Biology and Chemistry there. They have been married for almost five years and have a son, Jack, who will turn two in October.

“Hockaday absolutely influenced me to become an educator, particularly in the independent school space,” she said. “I had so many amazing mentors at Hockaday, particularly Murry Gans, Bob Patrizi, and Andre Stipanovic. High school was such a transformative and nurturing time for me, and I loved the idea of being a part of that for someone else.”

At Hockaday, Abbie practiced leadership skills in her role as Form IV president. “There was no homework assignment as hard as getting my class to vote on a graduation song!” she said. “I grew so much in that role and was able to do that because of the immense support of Mr. Gans, our class sponsor, and my closest friends, all of whom dealt with me crying quite a bit throughout the year. I learned how to deal with making unpopular decisions and handle criticism from those who didn’t have full context for the choices being made. This is a skill I regularly employ in my classroom when handling student disappointment and entitlement, and I know it will also help me as I step into school administration next year.”

Outside of her work with students, she has really appreciated some of the amazing opportunities afforded by Woodberry: In 2019, she was selected to be a part of a two-year action research program through the International Boys’ Schools Coalition, during which she would complete a research project about her students and write a paper. Her paper was awarded “Top 10” from her research group and published on the IBSC website. “I was able to travel to Montreal and train with my research cohort,” she said. “I enjoyed working with a small group of teachers from all over the world who worked in all-boys schools.”

“My best friends from Hockaday were instrumental in giving me the courage and push to leave my career in engineering to become a teacher, and I think about them every day as I watch my students create those same life-long friendships.”

“I think any teacher will point to students they’ve most closely mentored as their greatest career highlights, and I’m no different. It really is special when you’ve worked with a student, built up their confidence, and shown them they can tackle hard things. We have a tradition at Woodberry called ‘Senior Shake’ when the entire school lines up to shake every senior’s hand after their final Chapel service. It really is special to go through that line and share a moment with a student where you can see just how much you meant to them during their time here. There’s lots of crying!”

She also learned the value of relationships and collaboration. “Despite Hockaday being a demanding and challenging high school, I never once felt in competition with my peers,” she said. “Rather, I felt like we were in it together; we regularly shared notes, helped each other prep for exams by meeting at Starbucks to go over History outlines, and quizzed each other in the hallways before Spanish vocab tests (and I didn’t even take Spanish). There was never a feeling that good grades and recognition were a scarce resource to hoard from each other, and I think that has absolutely helped me as an engineer and teacher to work on teams with others and celebrate team success.”

As an educator at an all-boys school, Abbie has a unique perspective on single gender education. “I see my students connect with each other in a way that I think would be difficult to do with the opposite sex around, and I love how vulnerable they are with each other and themselves,” she said. “I felt so similar during my time at Hockaday: I created the deepest friendships of my life (friendships that still anchor me today), pushed myself academically, and put myself out there in ways I never would have in a co-ed environment.

“After six years of having the freedom to grow into myself at Hockaday, I entered college ready to tackle the work in front of me with a group of sisters who I knew would always have my back. My best friends from Hockaday were instrumental in giving me the courage and push to leave my career in engineering to become a teacher, and I think about them every day as I watch my students create those same life-long friendships.”

FROM UPPER LEFT:

Valencia Mack Yarbrough ’77, Second Grade Teacher

Maria McKinney Dau ’82, First Grade Teacher

Jessica Werner Epperson ’96, Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives

Charlsie Griffiths ’98, Director of Orchestral Music

Sarah Startz Blanton ’14, Upper School English Teacher

Stephanie Hazlewood Dees ’94, Kindergarten Teacher

Melissa Thomas Allan ’90, Upper School English Department Chair

Amy Spence ’87, Director of Alumnae Relations

Chiamaka Acho ’02, Lower School Nurse

Mary Crain Roman ’01, Director of Annual and Planned Giving

Randal Rauscher Rhodus ’97, Head of Lower School

Christie Browning Sullivan ’95, Director of Dance

Lisa Culbertson ’96, Head of Upper School

Lisel Matheny Simmons ’92, Middle School Administrative Assistant

Sally Darden Hudspeth ’87, Associate Director of Communications

Mackenzie Miller ’03, Middle School Substitute

Dr. Julie Gray Flanagin ’89, Private Music Teacher

Caroline Robb ’07, Upper School Math Teacher

Stephanie Snell Stone ’02, Pre-K Teacher

Christina Crews Goldberg ’02, Annual Giving Manager

Alexa Hutchison Heck ’78, Administrative Assistant to the Head of Middle School

Alex Karigan Farrior ’03, Dance Teacher

Hunter Folsom Lacey ’12, Upper School Journalism Teacher

Elizabeth Norris Beacom ’02, Kindergarten/Primer Teacher

Tiffany Borlaug Rubi ’88, Activities and Events Coordinator

NOT PICTURED:

CiCi Herkimer Hanson ’84, Lower School Spanish Teacher

Madison Camper ’18, Happy Happenings Teacher

Odie Rooth Milliorn ’76, Auxiliary Programs Assistant Director

Julia Preston ’22, Happy Happenings

Teacher

HOCKADAY’S ALUMNAE FACULTY AND STAFF

“My favorite part of being back at Hockaday is reconnecting with the optimism and excitement of being a Hockaday student. Through the lens of experience, I watch young women begin to assert their blossoming independence. I also enjoy making my own contributions to their education and through the arts, guide them to be more purposeful and courageous.”

— ALEX FARRIOR ‘03, DANCE FACULTY

“I love getting to introduce the newest Daisies and their families to this amazing place that means so much to me. It is such a joy to watch the next generation of Daisies grow and share in the many rich traditions of Hockaday.”

— STEPHANIE SNELL STONE ’02, PRE-K TEACHER

“Hockaday has been such an important part of my life for the past 34 years (14 as a student, 20 as a teacher!) Working here is a teacher’s dream. You are surrounded by hard-working students, caring parents, and colleagues who are like family to me. I am grateful for the happiness, wisdom, and strength the school has given me as a student and a professional.”

— STEPHANIE HAZLEWOOD DEES ’94, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER