Order
PEYTON BONO
PERSON OF THE YEAR AND PERSONAL MEMORIES
In this month’s issue we honor our Preston Hollow Person of the Year, Abigail Williams (Page 18).
I first met Abby co-hosting a celebration for our sons’ grade at her home. The two of us proudly wore boy mom T-shirts, and admittedly, we both paired a stylish overcoat and riding boots with our looks.
Since then, we’ve spent countless hours talking about our proudest accomplishments. We’ve bonded over striking a balance between helicopter mothering and free-range parenting, and we’ve both tried to instill a strong sense of civic responsibility in our (now adult) sons.
Researching the work Abby has done in our community in an attempt to properly highlight the significant strides she’s made in public education, a memory of our initial introduction arose that better serves to convey what she’s all about than my listing her many virtues and accomplishments.
Our first meeting took place decades ago. We were mid-conversation when a shivering little one burst out of the pool and, without hesitation, Abby darted up the stairs to retrieve a warm sweatsuit for him.
With me in tow we entered her youngest’s room, and a familiar scent hit me.
We, too, were housing a bearded dragon, or some scaled creature of the sort, whose up to 24-inch growth spurts continued for
years. I’m not certain either of us knew what we were agreeing to and, as expected, having our youngsters follow through with the aquarium upkeep was a weekly chore for both parent and child.
As the kids lined up to hold the amphibian, one turned to ask who would be cleaning the aquarium, the precocious 6-year-old lamenting, “Why do we have to? Why can’t somebody else do it?”
Abby, handing him a popsicle to add a little sugar-free charm to her response, said, “Because young man, you are an able-bodied person who should never ask someone else to do your work.”
When she and I met to chat about our honoring her as Preston Hollow People ’s
Person of the Year, the two of us, as usual, spent the initial part of the conversation catching up on our boys.
As the conversation turned to discussing United to Learn’s wrap-around approach borrowed from Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, we again related our personal experiences of raising children, acknowledging the importance of children being made to feel safe, understood, accepted, inspired, and challenged.
As we wrapped up our couple hours of talking, we traded a few last stories about our sons, Abby remarking, “The only people (my son) is not accepting of, is the ones who are not accepting of others.”
As is the trunk, so are the branches.
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Sneakers, the bearded dragon, was a constant companion of the kids. CLAUDIA CARSON-HABEEB
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Dallas
Crime Reports Nov. 5 - Dec. 7
Nov. 5
A residence located in the 7100 block of Midbury Drive was burglarized after a suspect broke into the home.
A theft of an unspecified nature occurred in the 12000 block of Inwood Road
Nov. 14
A handgun was stolen from inside a vehicle parked in a commercial lot located in the 5500 block of West Lovers Lane
A brazen burglar broke a window at a commercial property located in the 5100 block of Lovers Lane with the intention to unlawfully remove ATM cash boxes from the premises.
Nov. 6
A motor vehicle was stolen from a residence located in the 6400 block of Northaven Road
A vehicle was stolen, and the car thief was apprehended by police at a commercial property located in the 12900 block of Preston Road
An unspecified offense occurred at a residence located in the 7200 block of Brookshire Drive
Nov. 7
Authorities were dispatched to investigate a suspicious individual at a bank located in the 8500 block of Boedeker Street
Nov. 15
The window of a car was broken, and property was stolen in the 5400 block of West Lovers Lane
A driver fled the scene after colliding with a motor vehicle in the 10900 block of Inwood Road
Nov. 16
Property was stolen from inside a vehicle parked at a convenience store in the 6800 block of West Northwest Highway
The front license plate of a vehicle parked in a commercial lot in the 10700 block of Preston Road was stolen.
A robbery occurred at a retail store located in the 10700 block of Preston Road
A robbery occurred in a commercial parking lot located in the 10700 block of Preston Road
Nov. 8
A motor vehicle was taken without permission in the 6300 block of Waggoner Drive
Nov. 9
Nov. 19
An aggravated individual picked up a pen and, using it as a weapon, caused injury at a bar located in the 7700 block of Inwood Road
A theft occurred in the 4300 block of Williamsburg Road
Nov. 20
A theft occurred at a residence located in the 6400 block of Del Norte Lane
An individual damaged a car while gaining access to its interior, stealing personal property at Preston Center
A senior living community located in the 5900 block of Sherry Lane was broken into and a laptop was stolen from the residence.
Nov. 12
Neighbors’ camera footage recorded a crook stealing valuable items from a vehicle parked in the front driveway of a residence located in the 11400 block of Strait Lane
The burglary of a home under construction occurred in the 6500 block of Desco Drive
Nov. 13
A driver hit another vehicle with his car in the 6100 block of Joyce Way
A vehicle’s window was broken at Preston Center Pavilion during an attempted robbery.
The window of a vehicle was broken, and property was stolen from a parking lot located in Preston Center
Nov. 21
Theft of property occurred at a residence located in the 9900 block of Preston Road
An individual left the premises with a stolen car key at a residence located in the 6800 block of Brookshire Drive
COMMUNITY: Dallas Bids Adieu to Gracious Host Al Biernat
Nov. 22
An assault and robbery occurred in the 10800 block of Camellia Drive, where a chain was stolen from an individual and the victim was dragged under a vehicle.
Nov. 23
An assailant struck an individual with a rifle and stole his wallet in the 3200 block of Park Lane
Property was taken without consent from a vehicle parked at a residence in the 4300 block of Bobbitt Drive
Nov. 24
A criminal trespass warning was issued at NorthPark Center
Nov. 25
Merchandise was taken without consent from a retail store located in NorthPark Center
The front license plate was removed without permission from a vehicle parked in a commercial lot located in the 7700 block of West Northwest Highway
Nov. 26
A vehicle was taken without the owner’s consent in the 6100 block of Park Lane
A criminal trespass affidavit was issued at a gas station located in the 6800 block of West Northwest Highway
Nov. 27
A vehicle was taken without the owner’s consent from a business parking lot located in the 5100 block of Lovers Lane
Nov. 28
A hit and run incident occurred at a property located in the 7500 block of Villanova Street
Nov. 29
Three individuals broke into a residence located in the 5200 block of Yolanda Lane and stole watches from inside the home.
Nov. 30
An individual’s vehicle located in a commercial parking lot in the 8300 block of Douglas Avenue was entered without permission and property was stolen.
Dec. 1
A criminal stole property from inside a vehicle located in a parking lot at NorthPark Center
Dec. 3
A theft occurred at a retail store located in the Preston Royal Shopping Center
Dec. 4
A driver who was involved in a major accident in the 8900 block of Inwood Road was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Dec. 5
Vandalism of property occurred at a residence located in the 10600 block of Lennox Lane
Dec. 6
The theft of a pick-up truck occurred in the 4200 block of Northcrest Road
Dec. 7
A trailer located in the 9200 block of Hathaway Street was entered without consent and property was stolen.
of the MONTH: AUTHORITIES VOTE NOPE TO LARGE AMOUNT OF DOPE
An individual clearly wasn’t trying to stay under the radar of law enforcement, or below the four ounces allowed under the newly passed Proposition R, when caught on airport property near Love Field carrying 41 pounds of marijuana in the 7200 block of Lemmon Avenue on Nov. 24. For more crimes, visit peoplenewspapers.com/ category/crime/
A Next-Level Real Estate Experience
Home & Business
KICK OFF YOUR BOOTS AND STAY AWHILE IN MIRON CROSBY’S RENOVATED FLAGSHIP STORE
DESIGN-YOUR-OWN
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
Visitors needed to travel down 16 miles of dirt road to reach the house where sisters Lizzie Means Duplantis and Sarah Means grew up in West Texas. After arriving, travelers would stay for a while and enjoy their mother’s beautiful hospitality.
The Highland Park Village flagship store of Miron Crosby, the sisters’ luxury, artisanal cowboy boot brand, isn’t quite as far off the beaten track. But the sisters hope that the store’s first significant renovation since its 2017 opening creates the same welcoming, hospitable feeling for visitors.
“Having the opportunity for people to come up and feel comfortable, have a ranch water, and get to know us and hear our story, that all is one of the tenets of our business,” Lizzie said. “We just knew we needed a really comfortable, beautiful store.”
The store nestled above rag & bone in
Highland Park Village closed for eight days in August for what the sisters call its first true renovation. It reopened in the same 490-squarefoot space, but with a redesign that feels warm, homey, and — like the elegant and unique boots sitting in shelving racks on its walls — fashion elevated.
“Dallas women and men are the most stylish and know how to dress, and certainly know how to wear a cowboy boot.” Lizzie Means Duplantis
Gone is the large, marble table that used to anchor the sisters’ “little tree house.” In its place are vintage furnishings inspired in part by glassware that the sisters collected in San Miguel, said Carrie White of White Interiors, the designer who led the renovations.
Elements of the redesign combine West
Real Talk: Eric Hage
Eric Hage joined Dallas’ KDC, one of the nation’s leading real estate development and investment firms, just three years ago.
As the company’s executive vice president of development,
he has been responsible for new business strategies involving the company’s core businesses, including office, industrial and data center development.
Now his role is even bigger: KDC has promoted Hage, who’s worked in commercial real estate for two decades, to president.
Hage succeeded Toby Grove, who continues to serve in an advisory role as vice chairman of the board of directors.
How did you get into real estate? It was a classic story of being in the right place at the right time. I was teaching tennis to kids during my first summer back from college and one of the parents, Talmage Boston, asked if I would be interested in
Texas style and New York fashion. Feathered wallpaper from French fashion designer Christian Lacroix is so realistic that visitors might reach out a hand to touch it, while a vintage ceiling fixture is reminiscent of a wagon wheel.
“That’s sort of our special crossroads,” Sarah said. “In all of our design aesthetic is a little bit of western and a little bit of New York high fashion.”
The sisters lived in New York for about a decade, Sarah working in fashion and Lizzie in finance, before returning to Texas and launching Miron Crosby.
“Miron” is a play on their great-grandfather’s name and another word for the Biblical
a construction internship. Talmage made the introduction, for which I am still grateful to this day. This opportunity led to a summer internship with Turner Construction, where I worked on commercial office properties, and ultimately a full-time job after college.
What is the best thing about working in real estate?
This may sound cliché, but the people are the best part of working in commercial real estate. The industry invites people of all backgrounds, talents, and personalities. Some of my best friends are those who I have done business with for more than 20 years. The Dallas market, in particular, has lots of key real estate players yet it has a small feel to it.
gift myrrh. “Crosby” is the name of a pasture on their family cattle ranch, as well as one of the sisters’ favorite streets in New York’s SoHo neighborhood, Lizzie said.
Since launching in 2017 with about 12 silhouettes, the company has left its boot print on the fashion and western wear industries. Miron Crosby’s collection has grown to include about 75 silhouettes, including a children’s collection that the sisters call Mini Crosby. In 2021, the sisters opened a studio in Aspen, and in 2023 they added another in Houston.
Their brand may be kicking up dust far from Highland Park Village, but the sisters said that Dallas, which has encouraged, supported, and championed them, is the perfect place for their signature store.
“We’re really proud our flagship is here,” Lizzie said. “Dallas women and men are the most stylish and know how to dress, and certainly know how to wear a cowboy boot. And so, we think this is the perfect place for us to fit, and a great representation of our clientele.”
Now that you’ve been a real estate professional for a while, if you could go back in time and give yourself any advice, what would it be?
As a young man, I had limited knowledge of the construction industry. I immediately starting learning as much as possible by hitching myself to smarter people and asking lots of questions – almost shamelessly. In the years since, I have watched young professionals hesitate to ask questions out of fear of not looking smart. This is a missed opportunity and the best time to learn freely from those more experienced.
What is your outlook on the Dallas market?
We are lucky to be in Dallas with a strong workforce and affordable
housing, particularly in comparison to other parts of the country. Our central location in the United States and an overall business-friendly environment makes this the place to be. DFW has become an attractive spot for college grads, and companies have taken note. Businesses from all sectors, banking to tech, continue to be bullish about maintaining and even growing their DFW presence.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I love eating at a good dive. Whenever I travel to another city, I check for places Guy Fieri has visited on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. My favorite dive so far is Louie’s Pizza here in Dallas.
– Compiled by William Taylor
Miron Crosby recently launched an online tool that brings the custom luxury fashion cowboy boot experience into homes. Visit mironcrosby.com to design your boots online.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Miron Crosby’s flagship is nestled above rag & bone in Highland Park Village. The sisters’ collection has grown to include about 75 silhouettes, and additional shelving was added during the renovation to display them. Sisters Sarah Means and Lizzie Means Duplantis. KELSEY FOSTER
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Try These Quick and Easy Ways to Style Your Coffee Table
You should never underestimate the impact that a coffee table has on the rest of the room. Since they’re often the centerpieces of the living room or the den, they affect a visitor’s first impression. Fortunately, they’re also easy to style once you know the tried-and-true methods for decorating them.
MARGARET CHAMBERS
My go-tos for styling a coffee table are stacks of books, something tall (such as a plant or a series of candlesticks), a storage tray or dish, and one unusual accessory.
Books
Coffee table books look best when stacked in groups of two to four each. Whenever possible, try to select books with covers that complement the color scheme of the rest of the room. Another rule of thumb is to avoid stacking books at a diagonal angle compared to the table; doing this makes it look as if you set the books down in a hurry.
Plants
A coffee table without a single plant (whether live or faux) can feel a little staged. Plants add an
organic touch and some texture to the tablespace. As with everything else, the plant needs to be the correct proportion for the table. Plants should not be so large that they get in the way of conversation or watching television.
Trays
porcelain bowl. Underneath, we placed a toile tray and multiple stacks of books. AT LEFT: We styled this coffee table, which has an iron and mosaic marble inlay, with a bone box, a pair of Chinese green parrots, and an antique chinoiserie tea
those out-of-sight in drawers or a decorative box instead.
Decorative objects
Coffee tables are also a great place to show your personality, since they’re an appropriate spot for unusual collectibles and antiques. Examples can include pretty jewel boxes, glass orbs, or small sculptures. To vary the heights of your objects, place decorative objects or plants on top of your stacked books.
If you need help finding charming accessories for your coffee tables, you may want to consult a professional designer. We know the best places to find antique tea caddies, statues, pottery plates or bowls, and other great items.
Coffee tables should be artfully designed, but functional too, leaving plenty of space to set down a magazine or a drink. By following these tips, you can design a coffee table that’s not only useable, but also adds some serious style to your room.
Trays can help organize functional items, such as coasters. Make sure to pick one that doesn’t occupy more than half of the tabletop, and don’t place it right in the center, either. Although many homeowners use their coffee table tray to store remotes, I recommend storing
Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) member, leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Visit chambersinteriors.com/ blog for more design advice.
Edgemere Offers Best-in-Class Senior Living with the Freedom of a Rental Community
When looking for a senior living community that best fits your lifestyle, aspirations, and needs, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is choosing between a lifecare (or buy-in) community or a rental community.
Because of its legacy as a former lifecare community, Dallas’s preeminent community, Edgemere, offers many of the benefits typical of the buy-in model — including more floorplan variety, extensive amenities, highly personalized service, and a strong sense of community — without any of the financial drawbacks lifecare imposes.
In fact, Edgemere’s unparalleled programming, amenities, and exceptional quality of life for residents led Newsweek to name it the Best Continuing Care Retirement Community in Texas and #2 in the entire nation for 2024.
Perhaps the most significant advantage of a rental community is that it doesn’t require a large entry fee. Often, lifecare communities require an upfront deposit ranging from $250,000 to $1.5 million or more, which ties up your capital. In a rental community like Edgemere, however, you maintain control and have the flexibility to invest or use this money as you see fit
without needing to tie it up in an investment in long-term care that you may or may not need down the line. By keeping your finances liquid, you can manage your investments better while enjoying the luxury and care that Edgemere provides. You’re not locked into a long-term contract, and if your circumstances change, you’re free to move without worrying about complex refunds or resales, which are common challenges in life care communities.
Behind the scenes, the finances of rental senior living communities are historically much more sustainable and less prone to market volatility, ensuring that residents will enjoy a consistently high level
of service. In fact, Edgemere is the only senior living community in the area that carries absolutely no debt.
What Makes Edgemere Unique
While many rental communities offer limited floorplans in a midrise setting with little greenspace, Edgemere residents have their choice of spacious and light-filled one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes in 14 distinctive layouts, each with high-end fixtures and private balconies or patios — all set on a leafy 16-acre campus in the heart of the prestigious Preston Hollow neighborhood.
“Secretly, we actually offer more than 14 floorplans,” explains Edgemere’s Executive Director, Teresa Bates. “For more than 20
years, residents updated and customized their homes to suit their needs. Some of them put hundreds of thousands of dollars into these unique — and stunning — renovations. Future residents will certainly benefit from these beautiful personalization’s.”
The community’s amenities are as rich and distinctive as its homes. Edgemere’s tree-filled courtyards feature flowing fountains and outdoor fireplaces, providing the perfect setting for informal get-togethers and peaceful strolls while a dedicated dog park gives four-legged friends a place to stretch out their legs. The natural grass putting green complements the community’s popular and innovative indoor golf simulator.
Other indoor amenities include a performing arts center, movie theater, library, woodshop, art studio, greenhouse, billiards room, a complete fitness center with a heated indoor pool, and a full-service salon, barbershop, and spa.
Exceptional Dining and Service
Edgemere offers residents three different dining venues. The Medici restaurant provides a truly fine dining experience using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients of the best quality prepared by accomplished chefs.
The Portobello Bistro offers chef-prepared made-to-order fare in a more casual setting without sacrificing taste, freshness, nor attention to detail. The Bella Vita Bar offers fine wines and cocktails, and a wonderful setting for meeting friends, old and new. In addition, our new Bottega is a grab-and-go café that provides convenient options for busy residents.
Choosing Edgemere means gaining access to an upscale, engaging, and secure lifestyle without long-term financial commitment.
To learn more about Edgemere, schedule a tour at: edgemerelife.com/contact-us.
ABOVE: This coffee table with a shelf on the bottom is topped with a bowl of fresh flowers, an antique quill box, and a
caddy. MICHAEL HUNTER WITH
DESIGN BY MARGARET CHAMBERS
Residents enjoying life
Edgemere Senior LIving – Heart of North Dallas
4
Community STEAM-POWERED LOCOMOTIVE LEARNING
Trains at NorthPark puts visitors on track for educational experiences
By Josh Hickman Special Contributor
With an ever-increasing focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning, an annual model railroad holiday exhibit has loaded up STEAM-themed features and inspiration this season.
As many parents know, STEAM is the new version of STEM-focused curriculum with the ‘A’ added for art.
This year, the Trains at NorthPark, a Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD) fundraiser in its 37th year, includes models of various forms of transportation and travel hubs, bridges, and a power plant featuring oil derricks, coal cars, wind turbines, and power lines.
Fact sheets throughout plus activity books also help inspire visiting children to engage in STEAM learning.
“We are especially excited about the new features this year, which make the event more inclusive and engaging for everyone,” RMHD CEO Jill Cumnock said.
A scavenger hunt checklist of pop culture characters hidden throughout the attraction adds to the fun.
Along with dioramas of Washington D.C. and New York City sites such as the White House, the Washington Monument, and
‘Staubach
Grand Central Station, local landmarks include the State Fair of Texas, the Cotton Bowl, and even NorthPark itself.
“We are thrilled to bring the magic of the Trains at NorthPark to an even larger audience this year,” Cumnock said. “This
beloved tradition not only delights visitors of all ages but also plays a crucial role in supporting our mission.”
This season of trains, cochaired by Becky Jones and Cory Bowen, aims to raise more than $1.1 million to help provide at no
charge a home-away-from-home for families with sick children needing hospital care in Dallas.
In addition, to the new STEAM elements, this year’s exhibit includes a LEGO feature, brand-new merchandise, and technology to assist visually
Pass’ Honors Retired Dallas Quarterback
AT A GLANCE
What: The Trains at NorthPark model train and diorama experience
When: Through Jan. 5.
Where: NorthPark Center Level One, adjacent to Starbucks between Macy’s and Dillard’s.
Tickets: $12 for adults, $7 for children, and $5 for seniors are available at the exhibit or online.
Children younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Online: trainsatnorthpark.org
impaired patrons.
RMHD is partnering with Baltimore-based assistive tech company ReBokeh Vision Technologies to equip visitors with low vision with a mobile-based software that helps them adjust the appearance of the world around them.
Bank of Texas is presenting the event for the 16th consecutive year.
“This partnership reflects our core values of community, compassion and commitment to making a positive impact,” said Chris Holder, executive director of corporate banking. “We are delighted to contribute to an event that brings joy to families during the holiday season and embodies our dedication to supporting those in need.”
‘Roger the Dodger’ and family attend Katy Trail plaza dedication, ribbon cutting
By Colton Stroud People Newspapers
Katy Trail has a new addition at the crossing of Harvard Avenue honoring the legacy of Dallas Cowboy Roger Staubach.
The new Staubach Pass plaza contains four stone pillars, each engraved with a word chosen by Staubach’s family to represent his character and impact on Dallas: service, faith, perseverance, and family.
“In 1963, I never thought I’d be back for this. We lost to SMU on a Friday night, 32-28.” Roger Staubach
The plaza is paved with blue-gray stones, with strips of light periodically guiding would-be night walkers. Additionally, the plaza features stone benches
for anyone wishing to rest.
“Places like the Katy Trail make Dallas seem small and friendly,” Friends of the Katy Trail executive director Amy Bean said.
“And while the trail is the beloved ribbon of green, the plazas of the trail are the cornerstones. The trail’s iconic plazas serve as spots for rest, relaxation, and community.”
Staubach, now 82, attended the plaza’s ribbon-cutting ceremony along with his family, with Staubach himself cutting the ribbon for the grand opening of his namesake plaza.
“In 1963, I never thought I’d be back for this.” Staubach remarked, “We lost to SMU on a Friday night, 32-28. We were 9-1, and we came back here to play Texas, and they beat us at the Cotton Bowl. And I said, ‘I never, ever, want to come back here,’ but it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. With my family, everything.”
Staubach Pass marks the first plaza addition to the Trail since 2018, when Cambrick Plaza was constructed as part of Katy Trail’s last capital campaign. Staubach Pass was designed by SWA Group, a local landscape architecture firm that has been responsible for many of the Trail’s enhancements.
The plaza was funded through an anonymous $1 million donation. According to Bean, the donors believed “it was important to civic life that there be a physical acknowledgment of Roger’s contribution to our community.”
Fact sheets and an activity book help young visitors engage with the STEAM learning while a scavenger hunt encourages them to watch for the pop culture characters hidden throughout the attraction. JOSH HICKMAN
Roger Staubach and family came out to the Katy Trail for the ribbon cutting of a new plaza named for the NFL Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys quarterback. COLTON STROUD
Meyer Focused on Taxes, Border
By Colton Stroud People Newspapers
In 2023, state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-University Park, sponsored bills Gov. Greg Abbott credited with bringing “the largest property tax reduction in Texas history.”
And the chair of the Texas House of Representative’s Ways and Means Committee said he’s not done with that issue.
“It’s your property taxes,” Meyer told residents of the Forum at Park Lane. “It should be given back to you in many different ways of property tax relief.”
During a Nov. 20 program at the retirement community, the sixterm representative for District 108 also outlined his concerns about the border, human trafficking, and education funding.
“Last session alone, we spent over 6.5 billion dollars of Texas money to secure our border,” the lawmaker said, adding he expects that task to get easier when President-Elect Donald Trump returns to office. “We as a state were told by courts that we could not secure our own border. Well, we disregarded them. We said ‘This is the Texas border. It is our right to defend it.’”
On a related topic, Meyer credited Dallas-based New Friends New Life (NFNL) with opening his eyes to the problem of human trafficking.
“They’re a great group who are now the leading combatants for fighting human trafficking in the state of Texas,” he said.
Texas sees the second highest amount of trafficking in the nation, according to NFNL, prompting Meyer to prioritize the issue.
“Because Dallas, unfortunately, is an epicenter for it, and obviously that also ties to our border,” Meyer said.
Education will be another major focus in the next Legislature.
“Funding public education is something I hear about from Dallas Independent School District, Richardson Independent School District, and Highland Park Independent School District,” Meyer said. “Just to make sure we have enough money, quite frankly, for funding and for teaching our kids, but also taking care of our teachers.”
He suggested lawmakers could cut the STAAR test “while still holding schools accountable.”
“I know the House and the Senate are looking to get back to the basics and quit trying to teach to a particular test,” Meyer said. “Maybe make sure that, to your point, they can write in cursive, or they can, you know, do simple math or whatever the basics are — comprehend a book.”
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HOW EX-JESUIT STANDOUT BECAME A RECORD-BREAKING UNICORN
Now at TCU, Henry Beckman has rare combination of speed, stamina
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
Doug Robinson points out the fluidity in each stride, how Henry Beckman minimizes the contact between his feet and the ground when he runs.
As the longtime Jesuit Dallas track and field coach points out, that’s characteristic of a sprinter, although Beckman has the unique ability to maintain it over long distances.
“There’s no better feeling than coming across the finish line in first place.”
Henry Beckman
That’s part of what enabled Beckman — now a freshman at TCU — to become a state qualifier in two sports and set Jesuit school records in three different events.
“He’s probably the most mechanically sound runner I’ve ever worked with,” Robinson said. “His combination of speed and stamina fits very well with the best middle-distance runners. He’s got a competitive edge, too.”
Beckman set a new school mark in the 800 meters at the prestigious Jesuit-Sheaner Relays last season. He also was part of record-setting relays at two distances.
he entered his first race at the Moody Family YMCA in fifth grade. Beckman randomly told his parents he wanted to run the mile. He wound up setting the meet record.
“That was the first time I actually raced in a meet,” Beckman said. “It definitely was an eye-opener. I knew I wanted to do that in high school and get really good at it.” At Jesuit, Beckman’s versatility proved useful. His breakthrough came during his junior season at Lovejoy, where he won the 800 and lowered his own personal-best time by 3 seconds.
Already entrenched as a middle-distance specialist, Beckman used cross-country training to boost his endurance. He dropped football after his sophomore year to focus on running.
He was injured for most of his debut cross country season, but as a senior, he reached the Class 6A state meet. The same guy who could sprint 400 meters in under 48 seconds could also finish a 5K in 15.5 minutes.
“There’s no better feeling than coming across the finish line in first place,” Beckman said. “That’s all I think about whenever we’re going through a rough workout.”
Beckman started in two cross country meets this fall for TCU and will be a middle-distance specialist when the Horned Frogs begin their indoor track season in January.
“It’s a big change. The competition is 100 times better,” said Beckman, whose father, Andrew, ran for the Horned Frogs during the early 1990s. “It’s great to have guys who are faster than me to run with, so I can push myself every practice. I think I’ve adjusted to it well.”
Pride of Lions: Remarkable St. Mark’s Basketball Legacy Finishes
for Laczkowskis Close bond between brothers has fueled success as youngest sibling preps for
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
The conclusion of Luke Laczkowski’s basketball career at St. Mark’s this winter will be the end of one family legacy and the continuation of another.
As a four-year standout for the Lions, Laczkowski capably followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Andrew and Tate. He reached the 1,500-point plateau late last season.
“It started outside in our backyard.”
Luke Laczkowski
Next year, Laczkowski will play for Saint Louis University after signing with the Billikens in November. It will mark a return to a city where both of his parents were star athletes at neighboring Washington University, and where he still has plenty of family.
Despite standing at 6 feet, 8
inches now, Laczkowski grew up favoring tennis rather than basketball. He was a highly ranked youth player who switched sports three years ago because of the opportunity to play with Tate. Luke
tried out and made the team as a freshman and hasn’t looked back.
“Playing with my brother, he kind of paved the path for my basketball career. That team was truly special to me,” he said. “I
saw my game continue to improve and saw that college was a possibility. Playing basketball for as long as I can is my dream.”
college
He’s also driven by support from his siblings, both of whom also have played at the Division I college level. Andrew recently finished his career at the University of Pennsylvania, while Tate is a junior at Army West Point.
“It started outside in our backyard,” Luke said. “Those 1-on-1 games helped me as a player, but I’m also trying to make my own path. They have pushed me to who I am today. I’m so grateful for it.”
Laczkowski said Saint Louis is a good fit in part because the system of new head coach Josh Schertz, formerly at Indiana State, mirrors the free-flowing concepts run at St. Mark’s.
“I believe he’s building something great at Saint Louis,” Laczkowski said of Schertz. “There’s a lot of factors that played into it.”
He specializes as a perimeter shooter with physical size that can create defensive matchup issues. The ability to play multiple positions has pushed Laczkowski to continue developing multiple facets of his game. Last season, he averaged 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds as the Lions finished 25-9.
TCU freshman Henry Beckman was a state qualifier in cross
St. Mark’s senior Luke Laczkowski will follow his two brothers to the Division I college level next season at Saint Louis. CHRIS MCGATHEY
2024 PERSON OF THE YEAR: ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
United to Learn founder builds partnerships to accelerate student success
By Claudia Carson-Habeeb Claudia.Carson-Habeeb@peoplenewspapers.com
Abigail Williams, the founder and chief executive officer of United to Learn, knows how important the relationship between school and community is in developing the child.
“If the mind of a child is a sponge, we as a society cannot, should not, withhold one drop of water,” Williams said.
Williams exemplifies what it means to work hard and give back, and she is determined to provide future generations with equal access to learning.
“School was my safe place. It was a place I could blossom. And I believe every child deserves that.” Abigail Williams
Her advocacy and refusal to settle for a median standard earned our admiration and made her Preston Hollow People’s 2024 Person of the Year.
“Every child wants to do well, but there may be barriers beyond their control that keep them from being present or ready when they arrive each morning. A child who, after walking into school, can feel safe and calm will be a child ready to learn,” she said.
Williams sits at the helm of United to Learn, an education nonprofit with a vision to accelerate student achievement across Dallas and develop purposeful leaders in the community. The organization’s wrap-around model brings social emotional learning, educational tools, training, tutors, campus improvements, student experiences, and educator wellness touchpoints into schools.
Before launching United to Learn, Williams
programming and investments to be used smarter and go farther,” she said.
United to Learn works arm-in-arm with Dallas ISD to ensure alignment with district goals and has plans over the next two years to expand curated support district-wide, ultimately benefiting more than 66,000 students and nearly 5,000 teachers across 137 schools.
“United to Learn can only exist and have impact with a true willing and ready partner. Our role is to be an accelerant of student success; we want to convey the message ‘we are your partner’ and our model is most powerful because we are proximate,” she said.
served as vice president and director of charitable service for Goldman Sachs & Co. and helped found the Uplift Williams Preparatory School, a K-12 free tuition charter school.
Growing up in Seguin with a single mom who worked multiple jobs to keep her three children afloat, Williams relished the teachers who pushed her to realize her talents.
“School was my safe place. It was a place I could blossom. And I believe every child deserves that,” she said.
Working alongside individuals and companies, Williams set out to build a bridge between community and its most valuable asset.
AT A GLANCE
Abigail Williams’s community advocacy also includes board positions and partnerships with:
The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, the National Network of Schools in Partnership, SMU’s Cox School of Business Executive Council, Dallas CASA, Texas Women’s Foundation, the North Dallas High School Community Board, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and the “Austin College GO!” Forum.
“The Dallas community is a very generous and caring community, and educators, investors, and volunteers continue to show their commitment to building success for students, but we needed a space to align on a real picture of what that looked like and ensure that picture wasn’t just pretty colors but steeped in sound research,” Williams said.
“In our founding days, I remember simple requests to replace well-intentioned used book deliveries with more focused grade appropriate high interest texts. Through conversations with school leadership, we were able to align our mutual goals to allow
For the public education advocate, altering the conventional ideas of what a public school looks like requires lifting the veil to allow the well-intentioned community to understand the difference hands-on improvements make.
“When a teacher is able to request something that makes an immediate difference in their respective classroom, the ripple effect is substantial,” said Williams.
Her efforts to build knowledge, empathy, and confidence in our future generations is paying off.
“Watching Abby grow into a successful collaboration what started as a few people working around a table to enact change, comes from her ability to authentically listen,” said United to Learn board member Karen Pollock. “Abby has created an endurance that did not happen overnight. She and her team keep showing up with intentionality to build, brick by brick, a foundation so strong, I believe we’re only at the starting line of the collaborative impact United to Learn will make on our children,” board member Alan Cohen added.
While Williams exudes a quiet humility, she’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes. “This is serious work. No one, nothing, is more precious than a child – our children,” she asserted. “And what they need most is to know their community believes in them and will meet them right where they are – every child deserves the opportunity to be loved, accepted, and believed in.”
Abby Williams joins the classroom at Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary School in West Dallas. Williams works with a team of volunteers to revitalize a teacher’s lounge at David G. Burnet Elementary School in Northwest Dallas. UNITED TO LEARN
Learn more by visiting www.ursulinedallas.org/admissions What can Ursuline be for you?
All-Girl, Catholic, College Prep, Grades 9-12 4900 Walnut Hill Lane | Dallas, Texas 75229 www.ursulinedallas.org
Ursuline Academy does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin.
SMALL SCHOOL, BIG EXPERIENCE
Please join us to learn why Fairhill is a Life-Changing school for students with learning differences!
Personalized Learning Instruction
Every lesson is built around YOU! With small class sizes, tailored teaching, multi-sensory instruction at every grade level, learning is all about individual growth and progress.
Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Support
Expert support and intervention strategies help every student build on their strengths and gain skills to overcome challenges. With this academic support, success is within reach.
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From the field to the court, a variety of sports for middle and high school students bring everyone together! Teamwork, growth, and fun are at the heart of every game. Go Falcons!
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The Learning Support Program builds confidence in every student by providing learning resources and executive function skill development leading to academic success.
Small School, Big Opportunities
Big experiences for every student! At Fairhill, our small-school setting creates space for leadership opportunities, fine arts showcases, extra-curricular activities, and hands-on projects, empowering students to shine and reach their full potential.
Grace Academy of Dallas is proud to celebrate 50 wonderful years! Since 1974, Grace Academy has been dedicated to serving Christian families throughout the metroplex. The anniversary festivities kicked off in the fall with a Celebration Chapel where Grace welcomed back the school founder, past leadership, families, friends, and alumni. The event included reflection on the past, praise and worship for the present, and outlined Grace Academy’s vision for the next 50 years. A special cheer presentation and student singing made the day even more special. We cannot wait to see what blessings are in store for Grace Academy’s bright future!
Debutantes Presented at Idlewild, Calyx, Terpsichorean Club Balls
The Idlewild Club kicked off the six-week debutante season in November by presenting five young women, all legacies with deep Dallas roots.
The Dallas social organization, founded by seven men in 1884, has presented more than 1,000 debutantes since its inception.
This year’s Dallas Debutants — most fifth and sixth generation Dallasites — are Delaney Compton McBee, Elly Donovan O’Brien, Elizabeth Roberts Thompson, Margaret Thompson, and Hallie Grace Weichsel.
After taking their full Texas bows during the Idlewood Club’s formal ball in November, the debutants are presented again by the Calyx Club in mid-December and the Terpsichorean Club in early January.
Their Idlewood escorts come mostly from the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.
Learn more about the debutants:
Delaney Compton McBee , the daughter of Carolyn and Michael McBee Jr., graduated from Highland Park High School. She is majoring in interior architecture and design at Academy of Art University, of San Francisco, and will graduate in May 2025. Her escort, Samuel Brannon Farrow, the son of Allison and Bob Farrow, enrolled at Texas A&M University after graduating from the Cambridge School of Dallas.
Elly Donovan O’Brien , the daughter of Caroline and Rick O’Brien, graduated from The Hockaday School. After graduating in May 2024 from Sewanee: The University of The South in Tennessee with a major
in psychology, she joined the Chief Executives Organization (CEO) in Washington DC., where she works as a coordinator. Her escort, Davis Field, the son of Susan and John Field, enrolled at the University of Texas after graduating from Lake Highlands High School.
Elizabeth Roberts Thompson, the daughter of Lee and David Thompson, and a graduate of the Cambridge School of Dallas. She is majoring in classics and minoring in history at Trinity University. Her escort, Thomas May, the son of Laura and Sterling May, enrolled at Texas A&M after graduating from Highland Park.
Margaret Thompson , the daughter of Shannon and Jodie Thompson, graduated from Hockaday. She graduated in May 2024 from Washington & Lee University with a major in cognitive & behavioral science. Her escort, Hill Washburne, the son of Heather and Ray Washburne, enrolled at SMU after graduating grom St. Mark’s School of Texas.
Hallie Grace Weichsel , the daughter of Christie and Christian Weichsel, graduated from Santa Fe Preparatory School in New Mexico. She will graduate from Texas Christian University in May 2025 with a communication major and sports fitness minor. Her escort, John Lancaster, the son of Gigi and Jim Lancaster, enrolled at Sewanee after graduating from Highland Park.
– Compiled by William Taylor
Storm Proof: Good Shepherd Getting New Multi-Purpose Gym
Good Shepherd Episcopal School’s $11 million Fit For Our Future fundraising campaign, which kicked off in August 2023, hit the 70 percent mark, clearing way for a December groundbreaking.
The campus will add a 14,983-square-foot multi-use space for physical education classes, sporting events, and school community gatherings.
“We are incredibly fortunate
to have the support of donors who believe in the transformative power of education and who are willing to invest in the future of our school,” campaign co-chair Calvert Collins-Bratton said.
“Our entire school community has contributed to the collective effort to build a stronger, more vibrant campus for our students.”
The project also will include an upgraded space for the school’s signature Classroom of the Earth
(COE) program, and the new gymnasium will serve as a Category 5 storm shelter.
Head of school Julie McLeod praised the work and vision of trustees and other campus leaders.
“We are thrilled to honor and celebrate the widespread community support for this project and the impact it will have on our campus and on our students,” she said.
– Compiled by William Taylor
Campus leaders describe the groundbreaking on a new gym as a milestone for Good Shepherd — an independent school that has been inspiring children to learn with confidence, serve with compassion, and lead with courage since 1959. COURTESY GSESDALLAS.ORG
Hallie Grace Weichsel
JAMES FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHY
Margaret Thompson
Elizabeth Roberts Thompson
Elly Donovan O’Brien
Delaney Compton McBee
PIONEER WOMAN SHARES RECIPES FOR GIFT-GIVING SUCCESS
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
Ree Drummond, who’s known as “The Pioneer Woman” to fans, has 4.3 million followers on Instagram, stars in her own Food Network show, and has authored more than 20 books.
But nothing makes her happier than when someone tells her they love her meatloaf, and she still gets invited over for home cooking.
“I’m not Bobby Flay or Gordon Ramsay,” she told a sold-out crowd at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on Dec. 2. “I’m not even Martha Stewart. I’m Mabel Stewart. In some way, I think that could be why my cooking and my recipes appealed in the early days, and maybe even still.”
During a conversation moderated by lifestyle expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Drummond’s stories ranged from the fun (matching Christmas pajamas for her family), to the funny (what to do when confused tourists wander into your home while you’re taking a bubble bath.)
Drummond shared holiday traditions, family memories, and stories about the early days of her blog, which began in 2006 with three readers, including her mom. By 2011, it was receiving 23.3 million page views each month, according to a 2019 article in Forbes
SENIOR
LIVING
“I had only read one blog when I started blogging, so I didn’t have a lot of frame of reference,” Drummond said. “But what I just did was, I just wrote stories. A lot of them were a little self-deprecating, usually some funny angles.”
Some of that fun came from city-girl Drummond’s early experiences of ranch life. She grew up the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon, lived on a golf course, and attended college in Los Angeles before marrying her husband and relocating to
a town with a population of 3,500.
Her future brother-in-law, she said, tested her mettle by inviting her to drop by while they were working cattle, handing her a thermometer, and telling her to take the cows’ temperatures.
“I won’t go into any detail,” Drummond said to laughter from the audience.
Drummond went on to have four children, who she homeschooled and eventually featured in her Food Network show. Her
oldest daughter, Alex, and son-inlaw, Mauricio, were in the audience on Dec. 2, along with former First Lady Laura Bush.
In response to an audience question about what she would prepare for the Bushes if asked to cook them dinner, Drummond said the former President is in “my wheelhouse.”
The menu would include roasted beef tenderloin, really creamy mashed potatoes (think cream, butter, cream cheese, half and half, and whole milk), “some kind of
lava situation with ice cream,” and a homemade dinner roll, along with possibly a crème brûlée for the First Lady.
“I’m not Bobby Flay or Gordon Ramsey. I’m not even Martha Stewart. I’m Mabel Stewart.” Ree Drummond
Drummond said she’s excited about her affordable product line at Walmart, where she grew up shopping. She also shared ideas for holiday gifts. Top picks included cinnamon rolls, her favorite perfume, and whatever the giftee loves, in bulk. Drummond said she once gave her husband 125 gift-wrapped pots of his favorite Carmex lip balm.
“I cannot imagine my life having gone in a different direction,” she said. “I wouldn’t have a blog. I don’t think any of this would have happened. I don’t know what I would have written about.”
Changing With Age: Should I Be Concerned It’s Dementia?
The holidays prompt many of us to spend time with our extended family – sometimes including relatives you may not have seen in years.
Maybe you noticed changes in a loved one and thought, “Should I be concerned?” or even, “Do they have dementia?”
These are important questions, but before we go further, it is important to know what dementia is.
Dementia is an “umbrella” term that describes a group of brain diseases that affect a person’s cognitive ability enough to interfere with their daily activities. Similar to how we say “cancer” which may be liver cancer, leukemia or numerous others, “dementia” is a general term that encompasses many brain diseases. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, but there are many others, such as frontotemporal dementia, Lewy
body dementia, and Parkinson’s to name a few. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that approximately 50% of people aged 85 or older have dementia.
Since memory loss is the most common symptom, let’s look at a couple of other symptoms that are important indicators of dementia to help differentiate between typical and concerning behavior.
Poor reasoning and judgment
Let’s say your uncle gets a phone call from Claire, a salesperson calling to sell a new roof due to hail damage. During the sales pitch, Claire asks for his bank account number and login information saying she needs to verify credit.
Normal Behavior: Those with sound reasoning realize the roofing company may need a down payment, but not their banking information. Realizing it’s a scam, they hang up.
Concerning behavior: A person with dementia has compromised reasoning and cannot differentiate between a reasonable
request and this red flag. They give their bank information and get scammed.
Changes in mood or behavior
Grandma has always been easygoing. At the holiday dinner, one of her grandchildren makes the mistake of saying her turkey is terrible.
“The Cleveland Clinic estimates that approximately 50% of people aged 85 or older have dementia.”
Normal behavior: Grandma lets them know she’s been cooking great turkey since before they were born, and that it is not polite to insult the cook.
Concerning behavior: Grandma screams at the grandchild and throws her
napkin at them. Then to everyone’s shock, she continues and makes an inappropriate comment about her daughter’s husband. These are just two of many non-memory issues associated with dementia.
If your family needs support for an older loved one living with dementia, contact The Senior Source’s Caregiver Support Program at 214-823-5700 or csp@theseniorsource.org.
Kimberly Knight, caregiver support program director at The Senior Source, holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP).
LEARN MORE
Visit theseniorsource.org/dementia for information about multiple programs that help serve seniors with dementia. The North Texas nonprofit assist more than 25,000 seniors and their families each year, offering financial guidance, advice on longterm care facilities, and ways to connect with others through volunteerism.
Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond talks holiday traditions, family favorites, and her early days as a blogger with lifestyle expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman. COURTESY GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, BRAD NEWTON
KIMBERLY KNIGHT
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College Filmmaker Explores Grandmother’s Gratifying Life Inspiring short documentary project showcases joys of assisted living
By Daniel Lalley
Special Contributor
For Roylenne Huff, a resident of The Preston of the Park Cities, retirement hasn’t exactly been synonymous with slowing down.
From her busy fitness schedule to movie nights and mealtimes, this Dallas senior is taking advantage of all her senior living community offers.
“I learned that it’s so worth it to just have time to sit down with your loved ones and hear about their lives and experiences.” Jesse Heller
“They take excellent care of me and allow me to live a full life,” Roylenne said. “I keep a very busy schedule. I exercise just about every day. The people here are just wonderful, and I’ve been able to make friends just by being a part of so much.”
Roylenne’s gratifying life was the subject of a short documentary shot and directed by granddaughter Jesse Heller.
“I was assigned a project for my 4D class at
college, and we had to choose someone to interview,” Jesse said. “I go to school in Rochester, but when I saw the assignment overlapped with Thanksgiving break, I knew I wanted to interview my grandma when I was back home in Dallas. She has such a positive outlook on life and has a really funny and sweet personality that I knew would translate well on camera.”
The documentary covers a day with Roylenne, revealing the vibrant and fulfilling life she enjoys. It invites audiences to reflect on their own relationships with seniors while underscoring the positive impacts intergenerational relationships can provide.
“I learned that it’s so worth it to just have time to sit down with your loved ones and hear about their lives and experiences,” Jesse said. “I loved all the little stories she told me throughout filming and am glad I was able to get to know her better.”
The project also highlights the civility, compassion, and care shown to Roylenne by the community she now calls home, potentially changing the way many may perceive the standards of modern senior living facilities.
“I didn’t necessarily go into this project with the intention of changing perceptions,” Jesse said. “I just wanted to communicate how much the Preston has helped my grandma on a personal level. But I do know that many seniors have fears about losing their freedom or being mis-cared for due to horror stories about assisted living homes. Maybe through my grandma’s personal experience, they could see that they’re not all bad and that you just have to find your perfect fit.”
What are the options for senior living? How can you be sure the standards remain high? What if your parents have different needs? What if those needs change?
At Belmont Village, we understand each situation is unique. Our experienced advisors will listen to your family’s story, then help you consider the questions you need for the answers they deserve. So you can confidently navigate the options from active adult to memory care and know what to look for in terms of management, food, care, and accommodations for couples with differing needs.
Our advisors are here to help. Just ask. BelmontVillage.com/JustAsk | 214-306-7687
Roylenne Huff tells her filmmaking granddaughter about her love of bingo, chicken salad, and favorite singers Patsy Cline and Taylor Swift. SCREENGRABS FROM JESSE HELLER
CHECK IT OUT
Use this QR code to check out the short video.
Winter Menu: Chase Away
The Chill One Bite At A Time
As much as I love quick meals, once winter settles in, I relish dishes that result from slow cooking. The low temperature, and longer cooking time on the stovetop, in the oven, or slow cooker, yields deeply flavored dishes while filling my kitchen with savory aromas.
Slow cooking also tenderizes less expensive cuts of meat like chuck roast, pork shoulder, and short ribs, as well as dense cuts like lamb shanks.
The key to slow-cook ing success is brais ing – a technique that combines searing and liquid. This easy technique produces meats that are fall-off-the-bone ten der bathed in a rich sauce.
Next, a braising liquid goes in the pot which can be water, broth, or wine. Just be sure the wine is one you would drink. Nothing destroys a sauce quicker than cheap wine. One that retails for $12 to $15 is ideal.
After stirring brown bits into the liquid, return the meat and fresh herbs to the pot, cover, bring it to a simmer, and cook slowly until the meat becomes fork-tender and the liquid transforms into a savory elixir.
One of my favorite slow cooked meals is braised lamb shanks. Because shanks are a tougher cut than the roast, they benefit from slow cooking in red wine, flavored with fresh rosemary.
Searing the meat in oil browns it and provides the foundation for a savory sauce. Brown bits from the meat stick to the bottom of the pot and yield flavor that is absorbed by chopped carrots, celery, and onion that are added once the meat is browned.
Braised Lamb Shanks
Ingredients:
4 lamb shanks
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large sweet onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
4 large carrots, rinsed, peeled, and chopped
6 large cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 cups dry red wine
2 ½ cups beef stock or broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 sprigs fresh thyme
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 large bay leaves
1 ½ pounds small red potatoes, rinsed
Directions:
Preheat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add olive oil, and swirl to coat the
Season the lamb with salt and pepper before searing, but because braising concentrates flavors, wait until the final half hour of cooking before adding more salt.
So, bring on the cold weather because braising your next meal will chase away the chill one bite at a time.
Christy Rost is a cookbook author, host of Celebrating Home cooking videos, and longtime Park Cities and Preston Hollow resident. Her ‘At Home with Christy Rost’ cooking series for Eat This TV Network airs on AmazonFire, AppleTV+, Roku, Samsung TV, and YouTube. Visit christyrost.com for details and recipes.
bottom of the pot. Season lamb with salt and pepper, transfer to the pot, and sear, without turning, until brown on one side. Turn and cook shanks until dark brown on all sides, about 20 minutes. If all the lamb shanks do not fit in the pot, cook half of them, remove to a platter, and cook the remainder. Remove lamb from the pot, add onions and carrots, and saute 2 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 minute.
Deglaze the pan with red wine, scraping brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in beef stock and tomato paste. Return lamb to the pot. Add bay leaves and sprigs of thyme and rosemary tied together with string. Bring the pot to a low boil, cover, and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is very tender and almost falls off the bone, about 2½ hours. Add a little more wine or beef stock to the pot as needed. During the final 45 minutes of cooking, add red potatoes to the pot and cook until they are knife-tender.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
2300 Wolf St. #8BC
Residences at the Stoneleigh $6,975,000
Listed by Allie Beth Allman, Sanders Averea & Kyle Crews
This exquisite custom high-rise home features the finest of finishes. Direct access elevator opens to a spectacular entry foyer
With over 25 years of service in the Texas, Belmont Village Senior Living is a trusted choice for seniors and their families. Belmont Village Turtle Creek offers
reminiscent of Park Avenue, with lacquered privacy doors and walls along with limestone flooring. The gourmet kitchen, designed by Christopher Peacock, features handcrafted cabinetry and custom hardware that compliments the hand cut Ann Sachs tile backsplash. Cambria Borgini marble and Stone Smith countertops.The spacious primary suite has custom his and her bathrooms, featuring Zanger tile. A large, covered terrace accessible by hideaway sliding doors from the living area and is landscaped with custom faux plants, to remain. Three additional terraces are accessible from one of two studies as well as the guest suite & her master bath. Residence 8BC includes a private threecar garage adjacent two additional parking spaces, all located in a controlled access underground parking garage. Truly a one-ofa-kind, stunning home.
Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care with the added support of around-the-clock nursing, medication management, on-site therapy, and award-winning programming.
Rigorous health and safety standards and programming adapted for social distancing have meant that residents continue to thrive. Residents stay fit in a heated pool and fitness center, are active in engaging programs and enjoy dining with neighbors. Every Belmont Village community is licensed to the highest level throughout, making it ideal for couples, and its specially trained staff works to find the right blend of care to support any lifestyle. Schedule a tour with Belmont Village today at 214-306-7687 to learn more. belmontvillage.com/turtlecreek
BETH ALLMAN Great spaces for all your gatherings
From
The experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates know how important great gathering spaces are for the families when they are searching for the perfect home.
Here are a few homes with excellent entertaining spaces to consider.
Guests will be thrilled with the elegant living and dining rooms in a classic English stone
manor at 3705 Dartmouth Ave. in Highland Park.
This five-bedroom, three-story home blends sophisticated living with modern amenities. The front hallway leads to a dining room with a gorgeous chandelier and to the family room with its own fireplace. French doors create a wonderful indoor-outdoor flow.
The residence at 4121 Amherst Ave. in University Park was built in 2007 and has been lived in by only one owner. This timeless, transitional-style home has a cozy living room and family room that have large, carved fireplaces.
Ceilings on the first floor are 11 feet with tall windows and herringbone-patterned wood flooring. The covered patio includes a grilling station and overlooks a manicured lawn.
Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents continue to sell more homes at the luxury level – considered $3 million and higher – in Dallas County and across DFW, according to Multiple Listing Service Statistics. Connect with an expert agent: https:// www.alliebeth.com/roster/Agents
CHRISTY ROST
CHRISTY ROST
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN
expansive dining rooms to cozy family rooms, these Allie Beth Allman & Associates listings are perfect homes for gathering.
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BELMONT VILLAGE TURTLE CREEK Uncompromised Care, Unparalleled Hospitality
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DFW to be top real estate market in 2025
Navigate the 2025 real estate market with the help of an Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent.
U.S. real estate agents agree: North Texas will be the nation’s top market for investment in 2025.
As Allie Beth Allman & Associates reported in its weekly Allmanac, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute queried more
than 2,000 real estate experts nationally for its annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate forecast.
The Dallas-Fort Worth region ranked third nationally this year and has been in the Top 10 for the past six years. But next year, it is projected to be number one for real estate investment because of its stability, affordability, continued population and job growth and economic diversity, the report predicts.
In the Dallas area, the National Association of Realtors says that Hispanic homeownership rate has grown to nearly 20 percent, larger than any other non-Anglo ethnic groups. Hispanic home ownership is expected to climb.
With its GDP of $2.8 trillion, Texas ranks eighth among the world’s economies and shows no signs of slowing. At the same time, the region’s real estate has remained more affordable than other large metro areas.
To receive the Allmanac weekly, ask your Allie Beth Allman & Associates agent to help you subscribe.
Finding a home in West Highland Park
Buyers love West Highland Park for its convenient location and block-by-block charm, say agents with Allie Beth Allman & Associates.
West Highland Park is a small, residential pocket where each block has its own character and charm.
Only a 10-minute drive away from downtown, this community on the Dallas North Tollway is filled with hidden gems,
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including redone cottages and a variety of newly constructed two-story homes.
The experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates know West Highland Park well and can guide you to the perfect home. It might be one of these exceptional homes.
Dreaming of owning a mid-century modern home? Take a tour of a three-bedroom gem at 5332 Edmondson Ave.
It greets you and your guests with a water feature and lush landscaping. Inside, the open living room has a marble-clad fireplace, and the primary bedroom suite has a sitting area and a spa-like bath.
The four-bedroom home at 4624 S. Versailles Ave. is typical of the homes that are changing West Highland Park into a sought-after community. Built in 2019, it has a dramatic double entrance with herringbone hardwood flooring.
The home features an open, eat-in kitchen that has a bar and wine storage, as well as butler’s and walk-in pantries. The backyard lends itself to entertaining with a loggia that has a fireplace and automated screens.
Allie Beth Allman & Associates posts significant sales in Preston Hollow
with
lead in the sale of homes
at $3 million and higher across DFW, according to the Multiple Listing Service.
Trust the experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates to move your Preston Hollow home quickly and at the best price.
The brokerage’s team of experts is a luxury home leader selling more homes priced at $3 million and higher across North Texas,
EBBY HALLIDAY
DFW Named Nation’s Hottest Real Estate Market for 2025
Dallas-Fort Worth has claimed the top spot as the best U.S. market for real estate investment and development in 2025, according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute. This accolade highlights D-FW’s growth, affordability, and economic diversity, making it a standout among U.S. metros.
The region’s strong post-pandemic recovery and demographic growth have propelled DFW into the top 10 for six consecutive years. Total employment has grown by 11.2% since 2020, and with 23 Fortune 500 companies, DFW boasts one of the highest concentrations of major corporations in the country. This combination of job opportunities and economic diversity continues to attract both new residents and businesses.
Dallas has seen its median home price climb 38% since early 2020. With annualized fiveand 10-year real estate returns among the best in the nation, DFW remains a top choice for investors.
Dallas-Fort Worth’s momentum and market resilience underscore its strength and longevity as a prime destination. If you’re looking to navigate the nation’s No. 1 real estate market, trust the No. 1 company to guide you. To connect with an agent who’s invested in your success, visit ebby.com.
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN
‘Tis the season to buy in the Park Cities
Find your home in the Park Cities with the help of an Allie Beth
& Associates agent.
DAVE
PERRY-MILLER REAL ESTATE Luxury Living in Lobello Estates
Set on a lush 1.1-acre lot in prestigious Preston Hollow, this custom-built masterpiece at 5214 Ursula Lane (5214ursula.daveperrymiller.com) redefines timeless elegance. With over 8,700 square feet of exquisite design, this 6-bedroom home seamlessly blends architectural sophistication with modern functionality. It’s listed by Kay Ellen Pollack for $6,555,000.
From the moment you enter, you’re greeted by coffered and vaulted ceilings, custom finishes, and expansive, light-filled spaces. The main floor boasts a show-stopping dining room that seats 24, a library, and a guest suite. The chef’s kitchen, complete with Sub-Zero appliances, dual Wolf ovens, and a generous island, is the heart of this home. Outside, an entertainer’s dream awaits: a heated diving pool, lighted tennis/pickleball court, and a covered patio with a fireplace and grill. With luxurious details in every corner and a prime Dallas location, this home isn’t just a property—it’s a lifestyle.
To schedule a showing, contact Kay Ellen Pollack at 214-727-7178 or kayellen@dpmre.com.
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.com) is a division of the Ebby Halliday Companies, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, specializing in Preston Hollow, Park Cities, North Dallas, Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler Park, and Farm & Ranch properties.
THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP Striking New Construction by Crescent Estates
according to the Multiple Listing Service.
Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents recently sold these fabulous Preston Hollow homes. Connect with an agent to talk about getting your home ready to list in 2025.
The French-style estate at 5100 Brookview Drive in the heart of Old Preston Hollow sits on a 1.5-acre lot and has a private guest cabana, pool and pickleball court. Inside, the home features arched doorways and expansive galleries.
In 2020, the owners of a three-bedroom ranch-style home at 7148 Royal Lane added a bedroom, a multi-purpose family room and many upgrades in a home that sits on a private lake. The primary suite has a bath, two large walk-in closets and great views of the lake.
The five-bedroom, Hill Country-style home at 5415 Palomar Lane has four living areas in almost 6,500 square feet of living space. It has a large pool and deck, perfect for entertaining or relaxing. It also features a wine cellar.
If you’re drawn to the Park Cities, these pristine offerings with Allie Beth Allman & Associates are prime options to consider.
A stunning residence exuding minimalist, modern sensibilities awaits at 3501 University Blvd. Designed by SHM, built by Tatum Brown, and styled by Morgan Farrow, the 6,669-squarefoot home offers a vast open floor plan. From wellness enthusiasts to golf lovers, there is something for everyone to love here.
The white kitchen at 3836 Villanova St. is a chef’s dream that opens effortlessly to the light-filled family room and wet bar, making it the definitive heart of the home. You can step right outside from here and sip coffee in front of the covered patio’s fireplace with the glistening pool and spa in view.
If you want something completely new, check out 3420 Centenary Ave. This sophisticated masterpiece by Ellen Grasso & Sons is under construction and set to be finished in 2026. The expansive abode will have five bedrooms, elegant spaces ready for gathering, and a dreamy backyard oasis.
In Highland Park, 3705 Dartmouth Ave. is a vision of classic, English-style architecture. Inside, transitional and vibrant style unfolds across gracious rooms. Come summertime, the pool and spa outside will beckon for relaxation.
Striking new construction by Crescent Estates behind a walled and gated 1.8-acre estate in the heart of Old Preston Hollow offers a resort-style experience in one’s own backyard. 10006 Hollow Way was just completed in November 2024. This primarily one-level home with sleek modern design boasts expansive art walls, warm transitional finishes and an incredible U-shaped floorplan, is ideal for entertaining and everyday living. The primary wing includes a coffee/wine bar, sitting area, gym and fireplace with separate large closets and dual spa-like bathrooms flanking a private courtyard. Three more large en-suite bedrooms and a play room are on an adjacent wing.
The primary wing includes a coffee/wine bar, sitting area, gym and fireplace with separate large closets and dual spa-like bathrooms flanking a private courtyard. Three more large en-suite bedrooms and a playroom are on an adjacent wing. A full bar with separate wine room anchors spacious formals and dining areas. The vaulted great room with chef’s kitchen and large seated island opens onto one of multiple covered terraces with drop down screens – all overlooking the 42-ft pool and spa. A handsome game room, card room and media are all downstairs, easily accessible to the central living areas.
Brilliantly designed guest wing includes a two-room suite with fireplace and full bath, and an open-air loggia that connects to an entertainment pavilion with living area, fireplace, kitchen with pizza oven and dining area. Steel and glass panels can be retracted to open the pavilion to the seating areas with a fire pit overlooking the pool and regulation sized lighted tennis court - also outfitted for pickleball and a two-goal basketball court. Completing this outdoor paradise is a 2-hole putting green, also lit for night play.
Contact Charles Gregory (214.929.4434) or Ryan Streiff (469.371.3008) for more information or visit www. DPMFineHomes.com
Allman
Agents
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
priced
ALLIE BETH ALLMAN
North Dallas students are excelling in creative lessons that combine science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
Greenhill students inspired to invent
SCOTS PROBE ROBOTIC SURGERY, MEDICAL MYTHS, FLIGHT
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
Do you wonder what it’s like to be a cancer researcher, or how medical students train to use robotic surgical systems? Ever thought about flying for the Air Force, developing the next hit video game, or building a safer highway?
“I’m hoping that at some point in the future, somebody goes, ‘I remember that,’ and it changes what they choose to do with their life.”
John Wallace
Highland Park High School students had a chance to explore these careers and many more in the fields of science, technology, engineering, medicine, and research during the school’s annual Science & Technology Festival.
Seventy industry leaders donated their time to make the 18th annual festival a success. Students chose to attend a session that sparked their interest during their regularly scheduled science and technology classes.
“I hope it was fun and engaging, and that students were able to find potential careers to explore for their future,” said Kimberly Slade, who co-chaired the event with Michele Vicente.
The chairs worked to involve parents and alumni, to increase the variety of speakers, and to introduce
their skill at the system’s training simulator and sat in the surgeon console themselves. Their surgery was less high-stakes; they were challenged to manipulate the da Vinci’s four arms to put tiny rubber bands onto colorful, pinkie-sized mounds.
“Uh-oh, you got it mad,” Davis jokingly told freshman Isabel Carvalho as the robot made a low beeping sound while she aimed the rubber bands.
students to careers they might not have previously considered, Slade said. The festival was made possible by support from presenting sponsor La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas and the Highland Park Education Foundation.
In the high school’s auditorium on Nov. 18, Daniel G. Davis, chief of bariatric surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, introduced students to the fifth generation of the da Vinci robotic surgical system, which he
said arrived at Baylor this summer.
Davis showed students a video of a sleeve gastrectomy, a weight loss surgery which decreases the stomach’s size from that of a football to a large banana.
Then, the high schoolers tried
Two floors above Davis, oral and maxillofacial surgeon John Wallace took on the myth that drinking pineapple juice before a wisdom tooth extraction reduces inflammation after surgery.
Pineapples, he explained, contain an anti-inflammatory agent. But patients would need to eat 420 pounds of the fruit for it to have an effect.
Wallace also introduced students to the X-Guide system, technology he uses daily to place dental implants. He explained how the device worked before giving students a chance to handle the drill themselves.
“I’m hoping that at some point in the future, somebody goes, ‘I remember that,’ and it changes what they choose to do with their life,” Wallace said. “It tickles something in their brain, and, wow, they get motivated to do something.”
In another classroom, HPHS junior Raleigh Jewell, who said he’s interested in a career in the Air Force, listened to a presentation from Boeing 767 first officer and Air Force reservist Kevin Gibbs.
“I think that it definitely gives a little bit more perspective of what goes and on and what he’s done career-wise,” Jewell said, explaining that he’s now even more interested in an Air Force career. “It gives me a better perspective of a day in the life.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Scots take a seat in the surgeon console of the fifth generation of the da Vinci robotic surgical system. Students test the X-Guide system. Boeing 767 first officer and Air Force reservist Kevin Gibbs speaks with students. Dr. Stacey Hail shares stories of real emergency room cases, including some involving poisons, drugs, and murder mysteries. CHRIS MCGATHEY
Learn more about our 100 + choice schools and programs during a Discover Dallas ISD Virtual session!
HIGHLAND PARK ISD
STEAM
Larry Lavine, HP Alum and founder of Chili’s Restaurants advises MAPS Business Design and Leadership students on a restaurant research project.
ELEMENTARY
All our elementary schools are equipped with unique spaces where our youngest students participate in dynamic STEAM activities throughout the year.
INTERMEDIATE & MIDDLE
Our 5th-8th grade students have a wide range of opportunities to pursue STEAM topics including Engineering, Coding, Robotics and Digital Media.
The MAPS program, known for its innovative approach to education, is excited to partner with the MoneyGram-Haas F1 team. This collaboration offers students unique opportunities to work on real-world projects with professionals from Formula 1 which has grown from a minor sport to a multibillion-dollar enterprise thanks to its highspeed thrills, technological advances, and renowned drivers.
MOODY ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES @ HPHS
Where can High School students have authentic learning experiences from outstanding teachers and industry experts?
Right here in the MAPS Program at HPHS. Our classes include Business Design and Leadership, Environmental Architecture, Brain Science and Health, Engineering Design, Modern Media, and Sports Analytics.
Pictured Above: Students with MoneyGramHAAS F1 Driver Kevin Magnussen at the MAPS Race to Innovation Event.
Robotics Team Gobbles Up the Competition in Turkey Showdown
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
A team of young roboticists from Magikid Highland Park catapulted over the competition this November to bring home a win in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition Turkey Showdown.
The team’s five members — McCulloch Intermediate students Hayden Ernst and Donovan Moore, St. Mark’s School of Texas student Eason Lu, University Park Elementary student Connor Moore, and homeschooled student Miken Mompremier — finished first overall out of 26 teams in the competition. They also shared the Teamwork Champion award and captured the Robot Skills Champion award.
This was just Team Capybara’s second competition, and the first for their robot, Womp Womp. The team competed with another robot, Tom, earlier this year before a redesign that improved Womp Womp’s ability to play VEX IQ’s Rapid Relay game.
During the game, Womp Womp was challenged to pass and shoot balls through four goals arranged in stacks of two. The team advanced through multiple rounds of competition, and each lasted just 60 seconds.
In the Teamwork Challenge,
“You can’t just stick with the same design and expect to get much better gradually.” Miken Mompremier
Womp Womp had to cooperate with a robot from a different team to pass the ball and move it through the goal. In another round, Womp Womp needed to move autonomously through the course without direction from its human programmers. A third challenge tested the team’s ability to remotely maneuver Womp Womp.
Team members used creative coding to prepare for the game. Along the way, they worked to improve Womp Womp’s catapult, which was key to reaching the top goals and scoring more points.
When team members found that a motor kept working to lower the catapult even after Womp Womp was ready to score
again, they programmed their robot to sense the catapult’s position and stop the motor, Eason explained. The game’s rules require robots to start by touching a border wall. But Hayden had the idea to create an extendable arm that snaps back onto the robot once it begins moving, enabling Womp
Womp to start closer to the center of the court.
Donovan used coding to solve the problem of drift, an issue created because Womp Womp’s wheels can turn in any direction without having to rotate.
Team members learned about all aspects of their robot, but each specialized in their own role. They took robotics classes at Magikid Highland Park before preparing to compete.
The members of Team Capybara said they now practice and refine their robot for at least seven hours each week. In the process, they’ve learned the value of continually improving their design.
“You can’t just stick with the same design and expect to get much better gradually,” Miken said. “You can get good to a certain amount with this design, but there’s always something better.“
Now, the members of Team Capybara have their eye on a spot in the VEX Robotics World Championship this spring. They’re hoping to earn a ticket by performing well at their next competition, a top-tier event in Florida. But their upcoming trip to the “Fun in the Sun Signature Event” won’t be all hard work.
In addition to snagging a “golden ticket,” Connor said, he hopes to “go to Disneyworld!”
Team Capybara competes at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition Turkey Showdown. COURTESY MAGIKID HIGHLAND PARK
The Hockaday School Teaches Science With a Purpose
At The Hockaday School, middle school students combine science and social impact in a special project beginning in the seventh grade.
Students visit the Joppa neighborhood in Dallas and partner with Joppy Momma’s Farm to test soil and water to offer remediation solutions.
As eighth graders, students grow microgreens in class as part of their investigation of Earth’s biosphere and ecosystems.
“By growing microgreens for Joppy Momma’s Farm, the students are doing science with a purpose.” Peggy Cagle
As students grow the greens, they learn the science of plant growth, practice scientific inquiry skills, and gain a deeper understanding of nutrients in food. Students study the stages of germination, the conditions necessary for germination, how to use
various laboratory tools to collect data, how to formulate scientific conclusions based in evidence, and how to evaluate uncertainty in experimental results. Students explore how and why a
seed germinates, including why water and exposure to air are important as well as how a germinating seed gets energy before it can get energy from photosynthesis.
Partnering with Hockaday’s
Asian Mint, owned by Hockaday alumna Nikky Phinyawatana, class of ‘96.
Proceeds from the sale are used to expand the farm, which produces fresh, nutritious foods and makes it more readily available to the neighborhood.
“It’s important for students to understand the connection between what they are learning and the real world,” said director of innovation and collaboration Laura Day. “This partnership does that and creates a social impact.”
Science Department chair Peggy Cagle sees the project fitting seamlessly within the curriculum.
Dr. William B. Dean Institute for Social Impact, students then donate the microgreens to Joppy Momma’s Farm, where farmers sell them to restaurants including Cafe Momentum and
“By growing microgreens for Joppy Momma’s Farm, the students are doing science with a purpose,” Cagle said. “Not only do they learn about the science of plant growth and practice inquiry skills, but they also see how their learning can have a positive impact. Our students also love watching the microgreens grow, then tend to them meticulously, and they are excited about the opportunity to visit local restaurants and taste their own products.”
–Compiled by Claudia Carson-Habeeb
your creativity
TOP, FROM LEFT: Joppy Farm’s Kim High with Hockaday students Claire Morris, Anya Hegde, and Yihan Sun. BOTTOM: Chloe Ku and Hollis Wrighton. COURTESY HOCKADAY
MODELS, EXPOS, EGG DROPS, INVENTIONS,
AND HAIKUS
Area schools explore a variety of ways to prompt 21st century learning
STEM education isn’t just about teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to students of all ages.
It’s also about combining those subjects — often adding art for STEAM — to engage student interest in the technical and design skills needed for jobs in the 21st century.
This roundup of area examples is but a sampling of how STEM/STEAM learning is unfolding on campuses near you.
The Compass School of Texas
A second-grade class’s heart studies began with a well-known spider.
The book Charlotte’s Web sparked the curiosity of students tasked with exploring “heartwarming tales” before turning inward aided by a Compass parent with expertise in the blood-pumping organ.
Dr. Matthew Dickson provided insight into cardiovascular disease and nuclear cardiology, leading to health and wellness lessons focused on what makes a heart healthy.
Students looked at nutrition and physical activity to understand the impact of diet and exercise.
The school’s farm-to-table program’s hands-on food curriculum paired the students’ participation in gardening with creating and eating foods that are delicious and healthy.
Organ studies continued in art class, where students worked with their teacher to create a three-foot labelled heart.
In math, they designed a game to study the flow of red and white blood cells, moving pieces through the body, and adding ones on their way to the heart.
For English, the students wrote essays and showcased them for parents and grandparents. Their guests encountered hanging blood vessels and cells and so experienced entering into “the heart of the lesson.”
Dallas ISD
Texas’ second largest school district, unsurprisingly, tackles STEAM learning in huge ways.
Dallas ISD is home to the largest STEM Expo in Texas, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in February 2024 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
The 2025 expo is scheduled Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fair Park.
District leaders describe it as more than a scientific fair, because it allows students to investigate, design, and create real-world science, technology, engineering and math and brings together numerous district departments and campuses, as well as industry and academic partners.
“Our participants often get enthusiastic when they see new exhibitions or get in touch early to volunteer or participate,” Crystal Alexander, a Dallas ISD graduate and employee for nearly a quarter century, told the district’s news team in 2024. “The most positive comment is witnessing families come back year after year with more members.”
In a more recent example of the district’s expansive STEAM focus, the Dallas ISD Texas Math & Science Coaches Association had to hold two invitational meets in the fall to accommodate all those wanting to practice for UIL competition.
More than 1,300 students from 91 schools participated in the meet with students in grades three through 12 competing in number sense, calculator applications, math, and science.
“I’ve seen firsthand how the competition positively impacts my students,” said Kendall Russo, the TMSCA coach at Everette L. Degolyer Elementary School. “Through their participation, they’ve developed a love for learning, embraced challenges with enthusiasm, and built a strong sense of pride in themselves and representing their school.”
The Lamplighter School
With Innovative Projects, a new class introduced this year, teachers are cooking up STEAM learning for students in all grade levels.
First and second graders prepare various recipes while older students expand on that learning with design concepts, problem solving, and robots.
“These cooking projects allow students to improve their ability to follow multi-step directions while incorporating the math and measuring skills used in cooking,” said Stephen Scott, assistant head for lower school teaching and learning.
“Third graders conducted an ‘egg drop’ experiment that had themes of physics and design thinking,” he added. “Fourth graders have taken part in projects focused on robotics, which incorporates programming and problem solving.”
The Innovative Projects class is housed in the school’s state-of-the-art Eastin Family Innovation Lab and students utilize the building’s project room and Enrico Family Teaching Kitchen for cooking lessons, science experiments, and STEM challenges. Along with learning woodshop and robotics, the school’s teaching kitchen is a highlight among students.
Focusing on student discovery, the Innovation Lab’s open space learning environment is filled with light and is integrated into the landscape to support exploration alongside instruction. Featuring cypress wood planks and wrapped in copper, the interior and exterior allows an open concept for its learning spaces.
Trinity Christian Academy
At TCA, STEM learning often involves helping others, and students are flush with interesting ideas.
For example, Upper School students can
gain real-world experience and hone leadership skills by joining Tech Stop. In the program, the students assist teachers and peers with computer issues.
Also, an honors-level engineering class open to seniors comes with a final project focused on designing and developing new devices to help a local children with special needs. This project not only helps the children and their families by giving them useful tools and devices that don’t exist in the marketplace, but also teaches students that engineering skills can be used to improve the lives of those in the community, TCA officials said.
However, STEM learning doesn’t wait until high school. All lower school students in kindergarten through fourth grade attend a STEM lab, intentionally designed to provide opportunities for hands-on inquiry, exploration and discovery.
Wesley Prep
Fourth graders researching Texas ecoregions in their science and Texas history studies created posters and dioramas to model important plants, animals, and landforms in their areas of study.
Their research came to life when they focused on a specific animal native to their ecoregion and created a realistic habitat that would meet the live animal’s needs in the classroom.
Students recorded observations for the classroom animals over several weeks to study locomotion, behavioral adaptations, physical adaptations, body structure, and feeding habitats.
They also wrote ode, free verse, and haiku poems about the state park, plants, and animals in their ecoregions and performed them for their families and grandparents.
–Compiled by Claudia Carson-Habeeb and William Taylor
The giant model heart Compass second graders made with their teacher includes the aorta and arteries. GEORGE FIALA
Dallas ISD’s annual STEM Expo features dozens of exhibits and showcases opportunities the district offers, including STEM and STEAM-focused programs, career institutes, collegiate academies, and career and technical education pathways. COURTESY DALLAS ISD
Lamplighter first graders find out how tasty math can be as they explore geometry and other concepts by making pastry pinwheels. COURTESY LAMPLIGHTER
Seniors in an honors-level engineering class design and present a project at Trinity Christian Academy. COURTESY TCA
Wesley Prep students recorded observations of classroom animals over several weeks. COURTESY WESLEY PREP
LEFT TO RIGHT: Alexandra Billmyre, Austin Holmes, Amy Ford, Ryan Nordhaus*, Rob McAngus*+†, George Parker*, Jim Mueller*•+†, Charlie Hodges*•+†, Abby M. Foster*+, Shane Landers, Kim Meaders, Ravi Mohan, and Maddison Clark
Invention Sparked by Greenhill’s Design and Innovation Program
Isabel (Isa) Tanner, a junior at Greenhill School, set out to redefine hydration for elite athletes, imagining a future where these athletes no longer rely on generic sports drinks but instead have custom hydration tailored to their needs in real time.
“Her work has ignited a passion that drives her to independently explore advanced concepts, such as microfluid design and material delivery systems.” Matt Abbondanzio
Isa’s journey began in her Design Thinking to Open Entrepreneurship course within Greenhill’s Design + Innovation program last year. During the ethnographic research phase of the course, Isa made a discovery: Elite athletes need tailored electrolyte replenishment to
maintain peak performance. Inspired by this insight, Isa set out to design a groundbreaking hydration system for athletes. Her patent-pending invention includes a microfluidic patch
designed to capture an athlete’s sweat, analyze it using specific chemical indicators, and communicate results through an app. The data triggers a delivery system in a water bottle to release the exact blend of electrolytes customized to the athlete’s individual needs, ensuring top athletic performance.
In April, Isa’s innovation impressed a panel of executives at Greenhill’s inaugural What’s NEXT Pitch event where she
earned a $3,000 prize to push her project forward. The funding allowed her to develop a proof-ofconcept for her invention.
Leveraging her 3D modeling skills and access to a professional grade stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer in Greenhill’s Design + Innovation Lab, Isa produced an initial microfluidic patch with channels as small as 1mm. With early tests showing promise, the innovator is now focusing on developing a functional delivery mechanism to complete the system.
Sights set on having a working prototype by March 2025, Isa is determined to redefine hydration for elite athletes and open doors to next-level, personalized athletic performance.
“Isa exemplifies the principles we strive to instill in the Design + Innovation program at Greenhill: strategically identifying and solving the right problems while embracing uncertainty. Her work has ignited a passion that drives her to independently explore advanced concepts, such as microfluid design and material delivery systems. For both Isa and Greenhill, this is just the beginning,” shared Matt Abbondanzio, Greenhill’s director of design + innovation.
–Compiled by Claudia
Carson-Habeeb
Isabel Tanner presents during pitch night, showcases her innovation to alumni and faculty, and receives $3,000 prize check. COURTESY GREENHILL SCHOOL
SMU Team Puts STEM-Skills to Work, Collaborates to Speed Drug Discovery
By Sarah Hodges sarah.hodges@peoplenewspapers.com
Developing a new drug is a massive undertaking that can take 15 years and cost more than $2.5 billion dollars.
But a team of researchers from SMU has found a way to shorten parts of the process. They’ve developed a tool called SmartCADD, short for Computer Assisted Drug Design platform, to narrow down the chemical compounds that might be used to develop new drugs.
SmartCADD can identify drug design candidates from a billion possible compounds in days with good computational resources, said professor Elfi Kraka, who heads SMU’s Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group.
The tool uses artificial intelligence to screen chemical compounds and identify the most promising. But, unlike typical AI, it’s not a black box.
“One important new feature in what we use is so called explainable AI,” Kraka said. “So, you also get an explanation of why the AI system did what it did.”
SmartCADD uses those explanations to whittle down the number of potential candidates even further by combining filters with quantum chemical evaluations and models that help align a chemical compound’s features to where they might fit on a protein.
“You can think of it like when people are panning for gold and putting the dirt through finer and finer grain things, until they get to the end, and they get the dust,” explained Corey Clark, assistant
professor of computer science in the Lyle School of Engineering and deputy director of Research at SMU Guildhall.
SmartCADD’s result pinpoints the best drug candidates to bind to target proteins. A better fit means a more effective drug. SmartCADD cuts out potential drugs that won’t travel effectively through the body, or that will be toxic to patients.
The researchers recently tested SmartCADD on HIV. The tool created and searched through a database of 800 million chemical compounds and found that 10 million might work as HIV drugs. Then, it used its filters to both identify already approved drugs, and to suggest some new candidates that might work even better.
Now, the SMU team is working to apply the tool to an aggressive and
fast-growing type of lung cancer. The drugs on the market have too many severe side effects, Kraka explained.
The team has also created a library with highly accurate chemical information for almost 165,000 molecules, which covers nearly 90% of druggable space.
Kraka said she hopes that researchers who don’t have access to computational resources will use the team’s library and SmartCADD to assist with their own projects. The next version of SmartCADD will include the library and corresponding AI that will help speed up the tool’s filtering system without the need for expensive calculations.
“The end goal is that these filters end up becoming useful,” Clark said, “and can dramatically reduce the time to find treatments and cures for disease.”
Nationally recognized care in downtown Dallas.
For over two decades, your cardiovascular care has been at the heart of everything we do. Care that’s continually awarded for putting you first. And together, we'll conquer any challenges that come your way.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Elfi Kraka and Corey Clark. COURTESY SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, KIM LEESON AND JEFFREY MCWHORTER
