Hockaday Alumnae Association Names Two Honorary Alums

Congratulations to Cyndi Lewis and Sherri Darver!

An Honorary Alum is a member of the Hockaday community who has demonstrated true devotion to the School through his/her loyalty and support of Hockaday. An Honorary Alum consistently goes above and beyond expectations and exemplifies the Hockaday Cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics. Any member of the Hockaday community – faculty, staff, Trustee, volunteer, or friend – is eligible for this award. He/she serves as a role model to the students and alumnae of Hockaday.

Cyndi’s contributions have left a lasting mark on our community. Cyndi has brought over two decades of experience in enrollment management and educational leadership to her role as Director of Enrollment Management at The Hockaday School. She began her career as a Registered Nurse after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University. She transitioned to the field of education, joining Hockaday in 1999 as Assistant Director of Admission and advancing to her current position in 2022.

In addition to her extensive background in admissions and financial aid, Cyndi holds certification from the USC Leadership in Enrollment Management Certification Program, further enhancing her strategic insights and leadership abilities in the independent school sector. She is deeply committed to promoting access and affordability in education and has been instrumental in shaping Hockaday’s recruitment, enrollment, and retention efforts.

Cyndi is an active participant in the broader enrollment management community. She has presented on a variety of topics at national conferences and is involved in several professional organizations, including ASIAP and EMA. She also serves as a member of ISAAD and participates on the SSS Customer Advisory Group.

Cyndi’s expertise is complemented by her active involvement in community organizations, including the Junior League of Dallas and the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance. She is also engaged with various parent associations and has served on the Board of Trustees at St. Mark’s School of Texas. Cyndi’s dedication to fostering meaningful relationships within the Hockaday community, combined with her analytical acumen and attention to detail, continues to drive the School’s mission forward.

Cyndi’s relationship with Hockaday has spanned more than three decades, beginning as a parent and volunteer in 1991 and as an employee since 1999. As a parent of Meredith Perry ’02 and grandparent to Ella Perry (Class of 2032) and Piper Perry (Class of 2033), her deep, personal ties to our community give prospective families an authentic perspective on all Hockaday has to offer.

Sherri Darver is an accomplished educator who retired in 2023 after 45 years of experience in both administration and classroom teaching. While she initially declined offers to rejoin the work force after retirement, Sherri did humbly accept a position on Hockaday’s Board of Trustees, beginning her tenure in July 2025.

Sherri grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the youngest of six children and began her teaching career in Sewickley, PA in 1979. When her family relocated to Dallas, Texas, she began working at The Hockaday School as a fourth-grade teacher. From 1993 - 2005, Sherri thrived at Hockaday and enjoyed making impacts on students in the classroom. As well, Sherri led the academic program of Hockaday’s popular summer program for several years. In 2005, Sherri decided to step away from the busy classroom and spent the next year as a substitute in both the Admissions Department (fall) and 8th grade Algebra (spring) at Hockaday. In 2006, Sherri realized that while many of her closest friendships were made at Hockaday, she missed the classroom, so she accepted a teaching position in the Lower School at St. Mark’s School of Texas. In 2016, Sherri moved into her most recent role as the Head of the Lower School at St. Mark’s. During her tenure, Sherri earned both the Murrell Excellence in Teaching Award and the Ackerman Character Education Award. Sherri was honored to receive the yearbook dedication in 2019, and she was a finalist for the Ralph B. Rogers Alumni Award in her last year at St. Mark’s. Sherri retired after a vibrant and fulfilling career in education. Sherri truly cherishes the relationships she has with so many wonderful families at both St. Mark’s and Hockaday, and she feels that the best part of retirement has been rekindling friendships with so many former Hockaday colleagues, gathering with many on a weekly basis.

Sherri is a lifelong learner and a mother to Jacquie Braun Klein ‘02 and stepmother to Elizabeth Darver Brasseux ’02 and Harris Darver, an ’04 Marksman. Sherri and her husband, Alan, have eight grandchildren and enjoy traveling both abroad and domestically. Sherri loves reading, playing mahjong, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

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