FACULTY THE ENDOWED DISTINGUISHED TEACHER PROGRAM Hockaday’s incredible faculty are at the center of our School’s legacy of excellence in education. Our teachers place students first and make the Hockaday experience unparalleled. In 2011, the School formally recognized our faculty with the establishment of The Endowed Distinguished Teacher Program, in recognition of faculty excellence. The title of Distinguished Teacher refers both to a position and to qualities of teaching and scholarship. The purpose of the Distinguished Teacher program is to recognize and reward exemplary teachers, often ones of long-standing tenure, for their life-changing work with students. These teachers’ skills in the classroom, their ability to bring subjects to life, their ongoing research and scholarship, and their impact on their students’ lives make them each deserving of the title. These endowments reflect the embodiment of our teaching mission and exemplify the School’s traditions. Hockaday is grateful for the generosity of our donors, which allows us to recognize and honor exemplary faculty members who have served Hockaday so admirably and who will help lead us into the future. Hockaday’s first class of Distinguished Teachers — Diane Glaser (Middle School English), Dr. Beverly Lawson (Upper School Science; Science Department Chair), Ed Long (Upper School Fine Arts; Fine Arts Department Chair), and Steve Kramer (Upper School History; History Department Chair) — have retired and left behind a wonderful and storied legacy of excellence in teaching. Each newly appointed Distinguished Teacher is appointed for a three-year term, with the option to extend the appointment for an additional two years.
The newly appointed Distinguished Teachers are: BRANDI FINAZZO The Lyda Hill ’60 Distinguished Teacher DARIN JEANS Distinguished Teacher This position was endowed by an anonymous donor. SUSAN SANDERS-ROSENBERG The Nancy Penn Penson ’41 and John G. Penson Distinguished Teacher in Fine Arts TYMESIA SMAW The Lyda Hill ’60 Distinguished Teacher Upper School Science teacher Brandi Finazzo has been at Hockaday for 15 years teaching Chemistry, AP Biology, and several Honors Biology courses. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University. “Brandi is an outstanding role model for her students and a selfless contributor to the goals of the School,” said Dr. Barbara Fishel, Dean of Studies.
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“Her enthusiasm, energy, level of preparedness, creativity, ability, and interest in working with others as a member of a team, and general work ethic result in unparalleled lesson plans brilliantly executed in her courses. Over the years she has engaged her students with her natural zest for her subject, her knowledge of that subject, her ability to make it fun and rigorous at the same time, and her genuine interest in every student.” Brandi received the Ellen Higginbotham Rogers Award for Faculty Excellence in 2019 and previously served as US Form III Dean and on the US Faculty Advisory Committee. In 2019 she partnered with Laura Day, the Executive Director of the Institute for Social Impact, to design an innovative Biology class centered on building empathy, problem-solving, and social impact. Biology, Impact, and the Zoo is a course that allows her to tie in some of the amazing things she loved about Hockaday’s Social Impact program and gives students an opportunity to take their learning outside the walls of Hockaday to help serve the larger community. “I believe her involvement in this class illustrates so much about her, her passion for her subject and her students, her extensive thought and planning, and her commitment to School goals,” said Dr. Fishel. Darin Jeans has taught Middle School History at Hockaday for 20 years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from the University of Southern California. He teaches Sixth Grade History and is the Middle School History Curriculum Coordinator. Previously, he taught Seventh Grade History, served on the Middle School Admission Committee, and sponsored Middle School Student Council. Darin received the Ackerman Award for Character Education in 2014. “Darin Jeans is a master storyteller and historian, whether in his Sixth Grade History classroom or on the road with his family on their history-based vacations,” said retired Head of Middle School Linda Kramer. “He blends his own keen intellect, passion for history, and charisma to challenge his students’ critical thinking skills, to inspire their curiosity about the intricacies and nuances of history, and to encourage them to “live” history for 80 minutes every other day. In his uniquely entertaining manner, Darin sets high standards of performance for his students while engaging myriad teaching strategies to help them achieve those goals. What I have always appreciated most about Darin as a teacher is his quest to make sure that history is not just a story about the past; it is imperative to him that the girls also utilize this subject for solutions and action in the present and future. In Darin’s classroom, everyone thinks hard, works hard, and laughs hard. It’s a remarkable learning environment that inspires wonder and passion both about the past and each child’s purpose in the future.”
