The Hockaday Experience

Innovation and Collaboration

Developing Creative and Divergent Thinkers

“Hockaday will be the recognized leader in education and a model for how to educate girls – developing creative and divergent thinkers who are prepared to lead lives of purpose and impact in a rapidly changing, complex, and connected world.”
– Goal One, The Hockaday Difference Strategic Plan

What is Possible?


When we think about innovation and collaboration at Hockaday, we are guided by the following questions: how do we make learning a journey of discovery, where students aren't just memorizing facts, but are actively engaged, collaborating with peers, and shaping their own educational paths? How do we prepare them to be the leaders and innovators of tomorrow? Alongside our strong college prep curriculum, we will create new opportunities and reimagine some existing programming to expose our girls to new fields with an increased relevance to the world around us.

Areas of Focus

Click to learn more about each area.

Dr. Bivin Sadler, SMU Data Science Professor

"It is a dream to work with Hockaday's incredibly talented, energetic, and driven students, faculty, and leadership. To this point in my career, this type of partnership only existed in theory; after a year of working together, it is clear that there is no limit to what these students can accomplish."

Outcomes

Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO of United Way

“Hockaday is educating students today in the ways they can lead now and inspiring them to do so in the future, no matter their professions. Students have the opportunity to pursue ideas that change the way our communities work—for the better."

Innovation and Collaboration in Action

List of 20 news stories.

  • Inaugural Research Fellows Named

    As part of our ongoing efforts focused on Innovation and Collaboration and our continuing partnership with Southern Methodist University, we are excited to introduce the Hockaday Research Fellows Program. 
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  • Middle School Financial Literacy

    Upper School students in the Financial Literacy & Economic Concepts class recently met with Middle School students who are preparing for the Middle School Bazaar to talk about how to find a unique value proposition, how to figure out a price point, and how to break even or make a profit. 
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  • Creating Dye From Discards

    Lower School art students worked with SAGE, Hockaday’s food provider, to salvage vegetable skins and peels for art projects. 
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  • First Graders Learn About Wildlife Rehabilitation

    First Graders welcomed Paula Hagan from Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center this week, who talked about the work Rogers does with birds in need. 
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  • Third Grade Giving Garden

    Third Graders in the Science and Social Impact class planted two types of kale, broccoli, and garlic last week in the Lower School garden. 
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  • The Science of Metals

    Social Impact Chemistry has been busy in the lab this week experimenting to determine various metals’ specific heat capacities.
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  • Student-Led Deliberation

    Upper School students engaged in a deliberation yesterday with their advisories on the question, “How should the Hockaday Upper School regulate the use of cell phones by students during the school day?” 
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  • Bees in Our Ecosystem

    Hockaday’s beekeeper, Teagen Breedlove, recently visited Upper School Biology classes to explain the dynamics of hives, the roles of different species of bees in ecosystems, and the various pressures put on bees.
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  • Middle School Problem Solving

    Middle School Student Council is working together to solve an issue at school – how to help students leave the dining hall less messy after lunch! 
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  • Jobs of the Future

    Upper School students along with Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers and Upper School faculty members Karen Sanchez and Candace Townsley headed to Pegasus Park to meet OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar.
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  • Create, Collaborate, Innovate

    If you ask a Fourth Grader what her favorite class is, you’ll often hear “CCI!” 
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  • Upper School Biology Welcomes Visitors

    Upper School’s Biology, Impact, and the Zoo class was visited by special guests this week! 
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  • Modeling Civil Discourse

    Upper School students modeled their civil discourse training at an assembly in October.
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  • Third Grade Welcomes Health Coach and Chef

    Third Grade was thrilled to have Jess Wilson, Integrative Health Coach and Whole Food Plant-Based/Vegan Personal Chef, speak with the science and social impact class today! 
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  • Alumnae Headline Daisy 2 Daisy Panel

    Cathleen Crews ’00, Abby Hoak-Morton ’05, Fallyn Gray Jones ’00, and Merritt Denton Russ ’01 joined the Daisy 2 Daisy panel for Upper School students this week.
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  • DISD Trustee Visits Government Class

    Dallas ISD District 2 Trustee Sarah Weinberg visited Upper School government, a Social Impact class, to engage students in a discussion about the vital role of school board governance, the interplay between local, state, and federal government in shaping education policy, and practical ways for students to get involved in addressing educational issues within the Dallas community.
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  • Microgreens for Good

    Eighth Grade students have been growing microgreens in science class as part of their investigation of Earth’s biosphere and ecosystems.
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  • Forensics Class Welcomes Federal Agents

    Hockaday Forensics students had an incredible visit from the FBI Evidence Response Team (ERT) and a retired Federal Prosecutor! 
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  • Faculty Head to DIGS

    Lower School Science teachers Lara Guerra and Amy Banks spent a great day at DIGS, the Dallas Inner-City Growers Summit.
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  • Spanish in the Community

    This Hispanic Heritage Month, Upper School’s Spanish in the Community, a Social Impact seminar class, interviewed five key members of the Hockaday community. 
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From Our Community

Innovative Faculty Development

Hockaday strives to keep our teachers at the forefront of pedagogical approaches. Through innovative professional development sessions, travel opportunities, and research fellowships, Hockaday's faculty and staff are well-positioned to lead through creative and collaborative teaching methods and partnerships.

SMU Research Fellows
The inaugural cohort of Hockaday Research Fellows will consist of five teachers who will partner with
Dr. Jenna Weiselman and the Simmons College of Education at Southern Methodist University from January through April 2025. Research fellows will learn about the action research process as a tool for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of new pedagogical approaches. Action research allows teachers to study their own classrooms — their instructional methods, their students, and their assessments — to better understand them and to be able to improve their quality or effectiveness.  

Our Partners

Take The Next Step

Just as we encourage our girls to be curious and engage in the process of discovery, we encourage and invite you to visit our campus and experience a day at Hockaday.
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.