2026-27 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 CT
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.
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Tuesday, December 1Shawn Achor
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Wednesday, January 13The Family Guide to Screen/Life Balance: What to Do About Tech & KidsCatherine Price
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Thursday, April 8How Temperament Shapes Who We Become: Why Some Children Need More than Others to FlourishAliza Pressman
The Resilience Gap
In partnership with the Center for Brain Health, we are proud to welcome:
Co-Director, Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development
Eva Telzer, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development
Eva Telzer, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Parking available on Forest Lane
In a world where technology, social media, and AI are ever-present, teen brains are developing in real time alongside powerful digital forces. Recently featured on 60 Minutes, Mitch Prinstein, PhD, and Eva Telzer, PhD, talk about what is going on inside the brain during this key time and the external forces helping shape it – for better or worse.
Deepfake Safety
Thursday, January 7, 2027
8:30 – 9:30 AM
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Parking available on Forest Lane
Parents will get a clear introduction to the technology reshaping their children’s online lives. He will cover what deepfakes are, how convincing they have become, and how to spot them, with real examples. Also included is how deepfakes actually reach families: voice-cloning scams, AI companions marketed to kids, and deepfake sexual abuse and sextortion targeting students. Parents will leave with practical steps to lower their family’s exposure, conversation starters that make it more likely a child comes to them first, and a step-by-step playbook if their child is ever the target.
Divisional Coffees
Upper School
Forms II-III Parent Coffee
August 20, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Form I Parent Coffee
August 21, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Form IV Parent Coffee
August 28, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
October 16, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
December 4, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
January 8, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Form IV Parent Coffee
February 26, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-III Parent Coffee
March 5, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-III Parent Coffee
April 23, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Virtual
August 20, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Form I Parent Coffee
August 21, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Form IV Parent Coffee
August 28, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
October 16, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
December 4, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-IV Parent Coffee
January 8, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Form IV Parent Coffee
February 26, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-III Parent Coffee
March 5, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Clements Lecture Hall
Forms I-III Parent Coffee
April 23, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Virtual
Middle School
Eighth Grade Parent Coffee
September 8, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Fifth Grade Parent Coffee
September 11, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Sixth and Seventh Grade Parent Coffee
September 14, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Seventh Grade Parent Trip Meeting
September 22, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Clements Lecture Hall
Sixth Grade Parent Trip Meeting
October 20, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Clements Lecture Hall
September 8, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Fifth Grade Parent Coffee
September 11, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Sixth and Seventh Grade Parent Coffee
September 14, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Seventh Grade Parent Trip Meeting
September 22, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Clements Lecture Hall
Sixth Grade Parent Trip Meeting
October 20, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Clements Lecture Hall
Eighth Grade Parent Coffee
Transition to Upper School
January 22, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
January 22, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Sixth and Seventh Grade Parent Coffee
February 1, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Fifth Grade Parent Coffee
February 2, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
February 1, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Fifth Grade Parent Coffee
February 2, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Biggs Dining Hall
Lower School
PK Parent Coffee with Julie Gordon
September 10, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
Parent Information Program
October 7, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
First Grade Coffee with Julie Gordon
November 18, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
September 10, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
Parent Information Program
Navigating Friendships in Lower School
Audrey Woods
October 6, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hoffman Commons
Audrey will provide insights and research-based interventions for supporting girls through the journey of balancing social-media-driven expectations and learning how to maintain positive relationships.
K/P Coffee with Julie GordonAudrey Woods
October 6, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hoffman Commons
Audrey will provide insights and research-based interventions for supporting girls through the journey of balancing social-media-driven expectations and learning how to maintain positive relationships.
October 7, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
First Grade Coffee with Julie Gordon
November 18, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Primer/1st Grade Placement for 2027-2028
December 2, 8:30 – 9:15 AM
Coffee with Lower School Art Teacher Emily Dutcher
Celebrate the Creative Process
January 21, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Creativity isn't a subject so much as a way of thinking — one built through choice, process, and room to experiment, not just finished products. Emily will share ideas for talking with your child about creativity, what to do with all that art coming home, and how the creative process supports learning across every subject. You'll leave with a clearer sense of the creative teaching happening at Hockaday, how to nurture your child's creativity at home, and why it matters.
Coffee with Lower School Art Teacher Emily Dutcher
Celebrate the Creative Process
January 21, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Creativity isn't a subject so much as a way of thinking — one built through choice, process, and room to experiment, not just finished products. Emily will share ideas for talking with your child about creativity, what to do with all that art coming home, and how the creative process supports learning across every subject. You'll leave with a clearer sense of the creative teaching happening at Hockaday, how to nurture your child's creativity at home, and why it matters.
Second Grade Coffee with Julie Gordon
January 28, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
Third Grade Coffee with Julie Gordon
February 10, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Hicks
Megan Michelson
Birds & Bees
April 14, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
This program encourages and equips parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their young children about sex. In today’s sex-saturated culture, the idea of “the talk” at age 13 is too late. Birds & Bees’ goal is to replace that one talk with several smaller talks so that your kids can hear your voice and values. They want parents to be prepared for when these questions start, because it will be sooner than you think!
March 31, 8:30 – 9:15 AM
The Hockaday School
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.
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.