A beloved teacher who has taught every graduate since 1974, Mr. Long has opened the eyes, ears, and hearts of his students through his passion for teaching and his love of the arts. Many students first discovered their love for art and music through his dynamic classes, gaining a new perspective and appreciation for the timeless beauty of the Fine Arts as a whole.

 

“Ed is one of the rarest treasures at Hockaday,” said Eugene McDermott Headmistress Liza Lee. “Both Ed and I have learned a great deal from each other over the years, working together on various projects from Fine Arts festivals to concert scheduling. His unparalleled commitment and undeniable devotion to the students has set the standard for Hockaday’s faculty, and The Hockaday School is a better place because of Ed Long.”

 

For many alumnae, Mr. Long has become synonymous with Hockaday, and they fondly recall his compelling approach and fervent energy that have become part of Hockaday’s fabric. He is strongly revered and deeply admired for his unwavering commitment to teaching and to his students. His unique vision of introducing the History of Art and Music class as part of Hockaday’s graduation requirements has instilled in students an appreciation not only for this specialized curriculum but also for the world of art and music outside the classroom.

 

Mr. Long has made a profound impact on his students, fellow faculty members, and colleagues at other schools. He has taught courses as varied as Monuments of Contemporary Cultures, Digital Music, Computer Programming, Filmmaking, Anthropology of the American Indian, and Philosophy. He started several programs including Junior Patrons Guild (JPG) in 1982, which continues to be popular today. JPG allows students from Hockaday, St. Mark’s School of Texas, and Cistercian Preparatory School to attend exciting cultural and fine arts events in the community, and it is the only formally-organized social and cultural program involving these three schools.

 

Mr. Long founded the Hockaday Orchestra in 1978 and continues to conduct it today. Currently, the Upper School Orchestra includes 69 students, and with his encouragement, the orchestra programs in Lower and Middle School have grown substantially for more than ten years. Assuring the Hockaday community that Mr. Long’s legacy will continue, Mrs. Lee said, “Rest assured that the signature History of Art and Music class that Ed created will be continued for future generations of Hockaday students. And the orchestra and Junior Patrons Guild programs will continue to be a focus in our Fine Arts curriculum.”

 

During Mr. Long’s tenure as department chair, Hockaday added programs in ceramics, photography, film and video, orchestra, theater, dance, and debate. He maintains a strong commitment to the Hockaday Alumnae Association by collaborating to produce the annual Hockaday Alumnae in the Arts (HAARTS) program each year. In April 2018, Hockaday will once again host the ISAS Fine Arts Festival bringing together more than 3,500 Upper School students from across the Southwest to celebrate the visual and performing arts, and Mr. Long will serve as the Festival Director for the fifth time.

 

As Mr. Long puts it, “Maybe it’s not prudent to admit how much fun I’ve had, how much I’ve learned from my students, and how many days I thought I should have paid Hockaday for the opportunity and not the other way round. I have been enthralled with this School and with its students since Day One. And as I look at the arc of my career, I remain convinced that the arts are integral to the life I imagine for my students. Perhaps most gratifying of all, alumnae return to the School with feelings of how “HAM” has stayed in their lives – values and skills of seeing and listening that seem to last through decades. Try as I might, I can’t convey sufficient thanks to a School that has given me such a meaningful, joyful career. And while I may be stepping out of the classroom, I won’t be retiring from the enormous affection I feel for the School, for the students, for the alumnae, and for my colleagues. Those feelings will be lifelong and unabating.”

During his years at Hockaday, Mr. Long has been honored with the John Killion Award for Teaching, The Meadows Award for Teaching, the Hockaday Honorary Alum Award, and the Dallas Historical Society's Award for Excellence in Community Service: Education. Mr. Long has written a variety of musical works, including the musical Loveland High and five concertos for Hockaday student soloists. With the opening of The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Theater in 2016, the McDermott Foundation recognized Mr. Long by naming the stage in his honor. Now, future generations of Hockaday students will continue to find their inspiration for the Fine Arts standing on the Ed Long Stage.

 

The Hockaday School extends its deepest appreciation to Ed Long for his service for nearly 50 years. A celebration of Mr. Long’s legacy and contributions to Hockaday will take place during the annual Fall Alumnae Dinner scheduled on Thursday, October 19, 2017.