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Schools
Retired Wesley Prep leader inspired to do ‘right for children’
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By Josh Hickman
Special Contributor
When Linda Altick started teaching at Wesley Prep some 45 years ago, she could not have foreseen the story of educational success and expansion to come.
Lovers Lane United Methodist became her home church when she moved from Houston, joined in 1964, and eventually became a volunteer.
“My undergraduate degree was in education, and my master’s degree was in special ed,” Altick said. “In 1977, they said they needed a teacher, and I said, ‘I can do that.’”
In 1981, she agreed to become preschool director, as long as she could also be the Mother’s Day Out director and combine the programs.
Requests from families in the late 1990s prompted the school to expand into elementary grades.
“It was a controversial move for the church at that time,” she recalled. In 1998
Wesley Prep marks the retirement of longtime campus leader Linda Altick with a sculpture commissioned by Brad Oldham of the “little yellow chair” she used as a reminder to evaluate decisions based on how they
would affect students. (PHOTOS: COURTESY WESLEY PREP)
came the initial first-grade class, and in 2007, “Miss Linda” became executive director.
Today, the preparatory school has expanded to sixth grade, averaging 450 students. Students are primarily from Preston Hollow and the Park Cities, though some have come from as far away as Lakewood and Irving.
“I had always thought I would work until 70, and we had plans for that,” Altick, now 71, said.
COVID changed that.
“I wasn’t going to abandon the school during COVID,” she said. “We closed for the required three months, but we knew, as educators, that children learn best in the classroom. The last two years have been the most difficult I’ve had in 45 years.”
Her passion for the needs of the students
NEW LEADERSHIP
Meg Fahrenbrook, formerly assistant head of middle school at Episcopal School of Dallas, began serving as Wesley Prep executive director on June 1.
is as palpable as it is infectious.
“The whole reason I’m here is to be an advocate for the children, to be a voice for them,” Altick said. “Our motto is the yellow chair. The yellow chair always sat in my office as a reminder of — Is this decision right for the children? — because we only get one shot with them.”
But 12-hour days didn’t leave much time for relationships outside of the work environment, Altick admitted.
She hopes that changes with retirement. Her last day at Wesley Prep was May 31.
“I’ll be cleaning my house,” she said, chuckling, “reconnecting with friends, traveling, enjoying our granddaughter, and finding a way to give back. I’m not sure what that will be, but I’m certain it will be something advocating for children — to be a voice for them still, just in a different place.”
Her legacy at Wesley Prep? She hopes that’s defined as “making a difference in people’s lives” and “just doing right by folks.”
“I feel very honored and blessed to have been a part of this great school for 45 years — amazing teachers, friends, and the most wonderfully engaged parents,” she said.
Indeed, some teachers have worked alongside her for more than 30 years.
Pondering winsomely, she added, “I’ll miss the children — the hugs and the kisses.”
HPISD Picks English-Language Arts Materials For 2022-23
By Rachel Snyder
rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com
Highland Park ISD will start the 2022-2023 school year with new English language arts materials for grades K-8.
Highland Park ISD trustees on June 23 picked replacements for the Units of Study materials published by Heinemann for teaching reading and writing in grades K-8, which had been in place since 2019.
They approved the adoption of the Open Court Reading Foundational Skills Kit materials from McGraw Hill for K-3 phonics, Open Court Reading materials from McGraw Hill for reading and writing in grades K-5, and SpringBoard ELA materials from CollegeBoard for grades 6-8.
“In multiple conversations we had with the consultants, we talked about the fact that a resource is just a resource, and we’re writing our own curriculum, and they are going to peruse the resource carefully this summer,” trustee Bryce Benson said.
Benson serves on the district’s ELA subcommittee with trustees Stacy Kelly and Maryjane Bonfield; Lisa Wilson, assistant superintendent for education services; and Superintendent Tom Trigg.
“For example, if there is a text for third grade that’s not as rigorous as the consultants think it should be, then we’re going to identify another text that’s appropriate, so I feel very comfortable about rigor and our own curriculum writing process,” Benson said.
Trustees in April agreed to phase out the Units of Study materials, and the district hired consultants Robyn Hartzell and Dr. Thea Woodruff.
Hartzell, a former teacher, has experience as an instructional coach, interventionist, trainer, consultant, and program coordinator at the campus and regional levels. Woodruff, a professor at the University of Texas and Meadows Center researcher, is the principal author of the Texas
Educators will use new English language arts materials approved in June for grades K-8 with a custom curriculum
Highland Park ISD leaders are writing. (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)
Reading Academies.
School district officials estimated the cost of implementing the materials at between $1 million and $2 million, not including the costs of the services of the consultants. However, Trigg said the price would likely be closer to $1.5 million.
HPISD will primarily use a portion of available Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) supplemental funds to cover the costs of the new materials, and the purchase will not impact the district’s year-to-year budget.
“One-time revenues like ESSER funds help the district fulfill this type of need without taking away from recurring expenditures like salaries,” Bonfield said.
As for the consultants, district spokeswoman Tammy Kuykendall said a total of $42,000 was encumbered to cover the initial costs of their services as the district worked through the materials selection and review process. Trigg said they will likely continue working with the district at least through the 2022-2023 school year.
HPISD English Language Arts teachers in grades K-8 will receive targeted professional development on the selected materials in preparation for use with the start of the new school year.
Student Achievements
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1. 40 Years of Fringe
The award-winning Highland Belles drill team, celebrating four decades this year, will host its annual spaghetti supper and online auction/raffle fundraiser on Aug. 26 ahead of the Highland Park vs. Marcus game. Proceeds help cover team essentials like bus transportation, props, and competition expenses. The Belles also will host a ‘40 Years of Fringe’-themed alumni event on Aug. 25.
2. Champions
The Highland Park High School math and science teams received first place in math and science, third in number sense, sixth in calculator, and state sweepstakes by a large margin at the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) State Championship Meet in the 5A division in San Antonio. Students who participated in the state meet are: Ninth grade - Andrew Li, Spencer Luu, Lakshmi Vemula; 10th grade - Ryan Dong, Luke Ting; 11th grade - Joyce Jiang, Weitao Shi, Michelle Xing, Thomas Zhang; 12th grade - Justin Li.
3. Successful scholars
The Highland Park High School Academic Team tied for first place at the UIL 5A Academic State Meet on May 25. It’s believed to be the first time Highland Park has won or tied for first at the state level. Senior Evan Wang earned the points that propelled the Scots to the top spot with his bronze medal-winning performance at the Lincoln-Douglas debate.
4. Twirling to the Top
Highland Park High School feature twirler Karianne Grove-Collins received a 1, the highest ranking from the UIL judges, and a gold medal at the UIL solo-ensemble contest on May 28.
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– Compiled by Rachel Snyder
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(PHOTOS: COURTESY HPISD)
