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. “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.”

Tymesia Smaw, Darin Jeans, Brandi Finazzo, and Susan Sanders-Rosenberg

Susan Sanders-Rosenberg has been at Hockaday since 2009. She is the Chair of the Visual Arts Department and teaches Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Grade Art. Susan received the Prentiss Grant in 2011 for travel to Madagascar, where she participated in a conservancy program with the AZAFADY organization, a British NGO that has a 360-degree approach that incorporates family planning, health and nutrition education, language instruction, education, conservation, fundraising, improved farming techniques, and construction. She attended Barnard College, Columbia University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies. She holds a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Fine Art from Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.

“Beyond her own incredible talent as an artist, Susan has the admirable ability to nurture creativity, leadership, and empowerment in others — both her students and the faculty she supervises and mentors as Visual Arts Department Chair — in a way that feels safe,” said retired Head of Middle School Linda Kramer. “I have watched her guide her students through intricate visual arts projects using a step-by-step process that focuses on growth and the ‘journey’ rather than an insurmountable endgame. Susan leads peers in her department in the same way when they meet challenges and obstacles in their teaching and/or careers. Her approach blends so beautifully with the School’s STEAM initiatives because Susan is energized by the exploratory process, tackling each unique component of a task and weaving those into a stunning work of art. She sees creativity linked with critical thinking as an expression of beauty, both in the eventual artwork and the artist’s spirit. Her eyes and her teaching philosophy truly see the heart and possibilities in the visual arts and her student artists.” Lower School Primer teacher Tymesia Smaw began her Hockaday career in 1998. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Florida A&M University and a Master of Science from Florida State University in Elementary Education with a certification in Early Childhood Special Education. Tymesia received the Ackerman Award for Faculty Mentoring in the spring of 2018 and the Ellen Higginbotham Rogers Award given by the Hockaday Alumnae Association in 2014. Along with her teaching responsibilities, Tymesia is the Math curriculum co-coordinator for Lower School, a faculty mentor to new Lower School faculty members, and leads the Lower School Sunshine Committee, which supports and boosts faculty/staff morale and spirit in Lower School. Tymesia is equally well known in her role as Director of Hockaday’s Summer Discover Day Camp. For six weeks each summer, Tymesia supports early childhood educators and welcomes three- and four-year-old students across Dallas to attend this beloved summer camp. Many families note their positive experience with Ms. Smaw and camp as their reason to apply to Hockaday.

“Tymesia Smaw has been the rock of Hockaday’s early childhood and Lower School program,” said Head of Lower School Randal Rhodus ’97. “For 22 of her 23 years, Tymesia has been the Primer teacher at Hockaday and has been a leader for this ‘transitional’ year between Kindergarten and First Grade within Dallas-area private schools and beyond. She is not only an expert on child development but also a resource among her peers and for parents on teaching and parenting early-childhood age children. Year after year, parents and students are excited to join the Primer class because Ms. Smaw gets to be their teacher. We are fortunate that Tymesia comes to Hockaday each day to spread joy and love to ‘her girls’ at Hockaday and colleagues each day.”

The One Hockaday Martin Luther King Jr. Event in January was dedicated to inspiring our community to embrace diverse cultures and ideas as well as reiterating the importance of inclusion and purposeful engagement with each other. Student performances included dance, choir, spoken word, orchestra, and keynote remarks.

FALL 2021 18

The Eighth Grade put on a spectacular performance of “The Music Man JR” in March. The show marked Middle School Fine Arts teacher Susan Hubbard’s 30th show at Hockaday.

WINTER SPORTS

Hockaday’s Winter Sports finished their seasons with a very successful Winter Sports Championships weekend and enjoyed tremendous fan support from parents, faculty, and students.

Our Swimming and Diving team won the SPC championship after winning five of the 12 events at the meet. The 200-yard medley relay team set a School and SPC record, and Brooke Adams (Class of 2022) set a School and SPC record in the 100-yard freestyle. The Diving team had four top-8 finishes.

SPC Champions Varsity Soccer capped off an amazing season by beating St. John’s in the finals 2–1, after going undefeated throughout SPC play and winning the North Zone. This is the soccer team’s sixth SPC title since 2005.

The Varsity Basketball team finished their season strong by beating The John Cooper School in the first round of SPC play before losing a tough game to Episcopal High School. They beat St. Andrew’s in their final game to finish in fifth place.

Laura Day (left) and Laura Laywell (right)