2025-26 Parent Information Series

Hockaday’s Parent Information Series is designed to bring together our community to learn and discuss topics affecting girls.
 
This year’s program is designed to provide valuable insights and practical advice from leading experts on child development, education, and parenting. We encourage parents in all divisions to take advantage of these opportunities to learn and grow alongside their children. The distinguished education and child development experts invited to Hockaday present practical tools and applications to support and inspire families to communicate, learn, and respect different ideas, cultures, and values.

 ISACS Parent Education Series 

Virtual Webinars
6:30-7:30 pm, CST
 
A series of six one-hour virtual webinars offered through the ISACS Parent Education Series. These sessions are designed to strengthen partnerships between parents and schools by addressing critical issues in child development and parenting. 
This series of six one-hour virtual webinars is offered through the ISACS Parent Education Series. Sessions are designed to strengthen partnerships between parents and schools by addressing critical issues in child development and parenting.  Click here to view registration instructions. Those who pre-register for the webinar(s) will automatically receive a post-webinar email when the recording is available, within 24-48 hours of the live webinar.
  • September 25, 2025
    School Skills: Setting Kids up for Success
    Lisa Damour, Author & Ask Lisa Podcast
  • October 28, 2025
    How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Impacted Everything + What We Can Do About it
    Jonathan Haidt, Author & Social Psychologist
  • January 13, 2026
    Elevating Discipline with the Brain in Mind
    Tina Payne Bryson, Author, Speaker & Pediatric Psychotherapist
  • February 10, 2026
    10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People
    David Yeager, University of Texas at Austin, Psychlogist & Author
  • April 15, 2026
    Happier Parenting: Evidence-based Strategies for Improving Parent Happiness
    Laurie Santos, Yale University
  • May 6, 2026
    Conscious Parenting: Raising Resilient, Self-aware & Connected Children
    Dr. Sefali Tsabry, Clinical Psychologist & Author 

HPA GENERAL MEETING

Introducing Melissa Coyne 
& the Student Voices behind the Hype of Hockaday

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
8:15 AM
Clements Lecture Hall

Get ready to meet the dynamic Hockaday Hype Women, Kaitlyn Adams, Cata Littrell, Mischa Rutledge, Anaiya Saxena, and the Upper School Podcasters, Anya Bohil, Lily Roberts, and Sophie Zhan.
 
Please join us to hear how these young women spark connections across the Hockaday community—and beyond; and see their work come to life in a special recorded interview with the newly appointed Director of Athletics, Melissa Coyne.


HARTMAN FELLOW

David Yeager, PhD, University of Texas at Austin,
Psychologist & Author
10-25 - The Science of Motivating Young People     

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECORDED PRESENTATION
 
January 29, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Hicks Meeting Room, LLARC
Parking Availalble on Forest Lane
 
An expert on the psychology of grit and persistence, David has spent years researching how to motivate and equip young people for success. He can show us why our conventional methods of communicating with young people aged 10 to 25 tend to leave everyone frustrated, and he can teach us a better way of ensuring the younger generation feels inspired, enthusiastic, and empowered to do their best work.
 
In his talk, David explains how to adopt what he calls the “mentor mindset,” a leadership style that taps into young people’s desire for respect. He offers highly effective and surprisingly easy-to-learn practices: like being transparent about your goals rather than expecting your mentees to read your mind, or holding your students to high standards rather than coddling them. This practical, engaging talk is crucial for anyone who wants to be a more effective manager, parent, or educator.
 
The Hartman Fellow Fund was established in 1964, inspired by the life and spirit of Fannie Harris Hartman ’42. Beginning in 1996, it also honors Ruth Lindsley Hartman.

keynote speaker

Lynn Lyons, LICSW 
Psychotherapist and Author 
 
February 26, 2026 
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Rose Hall, Marshall Performing Arts Center
Greenhill School
Enter through the gates on Hornet Road (4144 Hornet Road) and park in the MPAC parking lot or along Hornet Road. The MPAC is the first large building to the left when you enter through the gates. 

REGISTER HERE
 
National keynote speaker Lynn Lyons will present “Three Mistakes Parents Make with Anxiety: The Truth About Accommodations, Reassurance, and Certainty” 
 
This event is presented in partnership with Good Shepherd, Greenhill, and Parish Episcopal Schools.  
  
Licensed psychotherapist, author, and podcaster Lynn Lyons brings her practical, research-based approach to understanding anxiety, worry, and emotional well-being in families. While many well-intentioned strategies may ease anxiety in the short term, they often unintentionally make it worse over time. In this engaging keynote, Lynn will break down the three biggest mistakes we make when responding to anxiety and introduce a skill-based, preventative framework that truly helps. Attendees will walk away with concrete do’s and don’ts focused on building emotional regulation, flexibility, and connection. The goal: to normalize anxiety and equip families with practical tools for long-term emotional resilience. 

ALLMAN FELLOW

Dr. Matthew Walker 
Founder and Director, UC Berkeley's Center for Human Sleep Science  
NYT Bestselling Author, ‘Why We Sleep’  
Professor of Neuroscience & Psychology 
March 23, 2026 
4:15 – 5:15 PM 
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Theater 
Matthew Walker, Ph.D., is Professor of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), where he is founder and director the Sleep Innovation LaboratoriΣ2s at the Center for BrainHealth. He previously served as a Professor of Neuroscience the University of California, Berkeley, and prior to that, was Professor of Psychatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of The New York Times and international bestseller Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, which was listed by Bill Gates as one of his top five books of the year. Matt Walker’s TED Talk, “Sleep is Your Superpower,” has garnered more than 25 million views. He has received numerous funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. In 2020, Walker was awarded the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Achievements. Walker’s research examines the impact of sleep on human health and disease. He has been featured on numerous television and radio outlets, including CBS’ “60 Minutes,” National Geographic Channel, NOVA Science, NPR, and the BBC. He is also the host of the 5-star-rated podcast, The Matt Walker Podcast.
  
Dr. Walker discusses the impact of sleep on human health and disease in a way that is digestible for any audience and provides tangible takeaways on wellness and peak performance. Dr. Walker has shed light on his groundbreaking research everywhere from Google to TED, where his talk "Sleep is Your Superpower" has 20M+ views. Dr. Walker has spoken about sleep to hosts such as the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, TED, Google Zeitgeist, and many more.  
 
The Margaret D. Allman Speaker and Fellowship, established in 1976 by Mr. and Mrs. Otto K. Wetzel, Jr., honors Mrs. Wetzel's mother, Margaret Deavours Allman ’23. The title is awarded to a Hockaday speaker annually who serves as a role model in literature, science, or the arts.  

Student Use of AI

Eric Hudson
Strategic Advisor
Talking with our Students about AI

April 8, 2026
5:00 – 6:00 PM
 
The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence has introduced a powerful new tool in education and beyond. What do our students need to know and be able to do in an AI world? What does it mean to be a responsible, ethical user of AI? How do we help our students make good decisions about AI in and out of school? This session will review the current state of generative AI, what early research is telling us about student and educator use of AI, and the potential and pitfalls of the technology. We’ll discuss how we should talk to students about AI in the context of both learning and wellness.
 ____

Eric Hudson is a facilitator and strategic advisor who supports schools in making sense of what’s changing in education. He specializes in learner-centered assessment, human-centered leadership, and strategic program design. Over the course of his career, Eric has designed and facilitated professional learning and strategic retreats for hundreds of schools and learning organizations.
 
Most recently, he spent a decade at Global Online Academy (GOA), first as an instructional coach and ultimately as Chief Program Officer, working with schools around the world to rethink where, when, and how learning happens. Prior to GOA, he spent 12 years in the classroom, where he taught English, Spanish, and journalism to middle school, high school, and college students. Working with students is how he developed his passion for designing empowering learning experiences.
 
Eric serves on the board of the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS). His Substack newsletter “Learning on Purpose” has appeared in The Marshall Memo, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The International Educator. He has a M.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. from Cornell University. He lives on Cape Cod, MA, USA.

Divisional Coffees

Upper School

Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
October 17,  9:00 – 10:00 am
Clements Lecture Hall

Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
January 9, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Clements Lecture Hall

Form IV Parent Coffee
February 27, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Clements Lecture Hall

Forms I-III Parent Coffee
March 6, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Clements Lecture Hall

Forms I-III Parent Coffee
April 1, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Clements Lecture Hall

Middle School

Fifth Grade Parent Coffee
September 9, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Seventh Grade Parent Trip Meeting
September 9, 6:00 pm
Clements Lecture Hall

Sixth Grade Parent Coffee
September 10, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Seventh Grade Parent Coffee
September 11, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Eighth Grade Parent Coffee
September 12, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Sixth Grade Parent Trip Meeting
October 21, 6:00 pm
Clements Lecture Hall

Eighth Grade Parent Coffee:
Transition to Upper School
January 23, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall 

Fifth Grade Parent Coffee
February 3, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Sixth Grade Parent Coffee
February 4, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Seventh Grade Parent Coffee
February 5, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall

Eighth Grade Parent Coffee
February 6, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Biggs Dining Hall
 

Lower School

Parent Information Program
The Power of Pause: Helping Kids Recharge
Diane Boehm, LPC, RPT Parent Coach
September 26, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Hoffman Commons

Lower School Parent Coffees:
Come visit with friends and hear about the
changes to Lower School Progress Reports.

First and Second Grades
Friday, October 24, at 8:00 am
Hoffman Commons

Third and Fourth Grades
Monday, October 27, at 8:00 am
Hicks

PK/K/P/First Grades
Wednesday, October 29, at 8:30 am
(following Rotunda Rocks)
Hoffman Commons

Sarah Shaefer
Founder of Mathodology, CEO of think!
Mathematics, and creator of Developing Roots
Beyond the Numbers: Building Curious, Confident Thinkers Through Math
Tuesday, November 11, 8:00 am or 6:00 pm
Hoffman Commons

Kindergarten Parent Meeting 
Primer/1st Grade Placement for 2026-2027
November 18, 8:30 – 9:15 am
Hoffman Commons

LS Parent Coffee/Book Club
Thrivers by Michel Borba, Ed.D.
Friday, January 23, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Hicks

PK Parent Meeting
Kindergarten/Primer Placement for 2026-2027
March 30, 8:30 – 9:15 am

 

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road
Dallas, TX 75229
(214) 363-6311
Within the private school community, The Hockaday School is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls from grades PK–12 located in Dallas, Texas. Students realize their limitless potential through challenging academic curricula, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs so that they are inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.

The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.