About
Head of School and Leadership
Dr. Laura Leathers
The Hockaday Board of Trustees named Dr. Laura Leathers as the Eugene McDermott Head of School, effective January 1, 2023.
Dr. Leathers served as the Interim Eugene McDermott Head of School from July 2022 - December 2022, and previously served as the Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs since 2020. She was responsible for supporting the Division Heads and the Dean of Studies, in addition to faculty-led initiatives, committees, and workgroups. Prior to joining Hockaday, she spent 16 years at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee as the Assistant Head of School. Laura and her husband Kevin are the parents of five children, including Ella (Hockaday Class of 2023).
Dr. Leathers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and French from Lafayette College and studied abroad at the Université de Grenoble. After graduating, she earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology degree from the University of Vermont and conducted her postdoctoral work as a Research Fellow at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to research and has authored numerous scientific publications, presented at STEM and other education conferences, and actively participates in leadership seminars focused on best practices in girls’ education. Dr. Leathers treasures working with students and being in the classroom. She has taught science courses including biology, chemistry, and AP chemistry, and continues to teach a section of chemistry at Hockaday.
Dr. Laura Leathers
"I am a passionate believer in educating girls and young women to be capable, confident contributors to their communities and the world. And true to Ela Hockaday’s vision, I believe there is no better place to do this than at The Hockaday School."
Leadership Team
List of 7 members.
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Laura Leathers
Eugene McDermott Head of School -
Nicole Escudero Christenson
Head of Middle School -
Lisa Culbertson '96
Head of Upper School -
Laura Day
Director of Innovation and Collaboration -
Jessica Epperson '96
Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives -
Barbara Fishel
Dean of Studies; Science - Upper School -
Michelle Goldsmith
Head of Lower School
List of 7 members.
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Joan Guzman
Chief Operations Officer -
Jennifer Johnson
Interim Director of Athletics -
Katie Leto
Chief Financial Officer -
Cyndi Lewis
Director of Enrollment Management -
Randal Rhodus '97
Assistant Head of School -
Sara Stoltz
Director of Communications -
Tracey Tevis
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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.