News Detail
Hockaday Announces $3 Million Gift to Honor the Legacy of Dr. William B. Dean
The Hockaday School is excited to announce a $3 million gift from the Dean Learning Center to create the Dr. William B. Dean Endowment Fund for Service Learning and Academic Learning Support. This generous gift will serve as a catalyst for continued development of these two important priorities at Hockaday and honors the memory and legacy of Dr. William B. Dean, trustee of The Hockaday School from 1970–1977.
David Dean, Chair of the Dean Learning Center and son of Dr. Dean, said, “It is incredibly satisfying and exciting to be able to continue my father’s legacy through this Endowment Fund at Hockaday. I know these existing initiatives are priorities at the School and are at the heart of Hockaday’s culture. I hope this gift will continue to strengthen and enhance these programs by placing more resources towards creating innovative programs that not only serve Hockaday’s students now, but also will have a long-term, positive effect on our community as a whole.”
Dr. Dean was an active civic leader, sought-after pediatrician, and the founder of the nationally-acclaimed Dean Learning Center. His commitment to serving his community was evidenced through his numerous and lifelong involvements in medicine, education, visual and performing arts, parks and recreation, civic participation, and historic preservation organizations throughout Dallas and North Texas. The endowment fund at Hockaday honors Dr. Dean’s lifelong commitment to serving his community and educating children with learning differences.
Kim Wargo, Eugene McDermott Headmistress, said, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the School community, we are honored and humbled by the confidence the Dean Learning Center has placed in The Hockaday School. The Dr. William B. Dean Service Learning Program and the Dr. William B. Dean Academic Learning Support Program will have a significant impact on our students. Both service learning and confidence in one’s own learning process are essential to developing the whole girl, and collectively, our students benefit greatly from these programs.”
Dr. Dean’s relationship with Hockaday was long and positive beginning in 1961, when Hockaday teachers worked collaboratively with the Dean Learning Center and the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in pioneering programs for teacher training and for diagnostic evaluations. The Dean Learning Center was a K–12 school focused on students with dyslexia and other forms of learning differences and in need of learning support programs. Dr. Dean’s involvement continued with distinguished service as a member of the Hockaday Board of Trustees from 1970 to 1977. Dr. Dean’s daughter, Rebecca Dean Dewey ’74, attended Hockaday for eleven years.
In alignment with the School’s mission – “Believing in the limitless potential of girls, Hockaday develops resilient, confident women who are educated and inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.” – these programs will allow each girl to learn more about themselves and the world beyond the classroom. Each of these programs is currently headed by a highly-respected educator – Laura Day, Director of Service Learning, and Shelley Cave, Director of Learning Support – and they look forward to enhancing these exceptional programs at Hockaday through the support of this gift.
Members of The Dean Learning Center Board include David A. Dean, Jean Dean, John Cranfill, and Rebecca Dean Dewey ’74.
For more information on Dr. William Berry Dean, please click here.
About The Hockaday School
The Hockaday School, the largest independent girls’ school in the country, is a college preparatory day and boarding school. From Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, Hockaday prepares bright and engaging girls to define their place in the world. Ranked among the country’s finest college preparatory schools, Hockaday was founded in 1913 – more than a century ago – and continues today to build on its original Four Cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics. To learn more about Hockaday, please visit www.hockaday.org.
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.