Social Impact Lab

Experience the institute

BRAND NEW! REGISTER TODAY!
Join us for the Social Impact Lab: How to Build It
October 22 and 23, 2026
Participant Fee: $875
 
 
The Social Impact Lab: How to Build It is an immersive one-and-a-half-day experience for educators and school leaders ready to bring purpose-driven-real world applicable learning to their communities. Spend time in our classrooms, meet the students and teachers at the heart of our program, and hear directly from the team (led by Laura Day) that built it — over 15 years — into one of the most distinctive social impact programs in K–12 education. You'll leave with a clear framework, real examples, and tangible next steps for your own school. Space is limited. Come ready to be inspired — and to build.

 
REGISTER TODAY! SPACE IS LIMITED!
The 2027 Social Impact Lab: Experience It
February 18 and 19, 2027
Participant Fee: $495
Please limit registrations to a maximum of 3 participants per School.
 

Our signature Social Impact Lab experience now offers three distinct tracks to better meet your goals:

  1. Classroom Educators (Lower, Middle, or Upper School)
  2. Students (must attend with an adult chaperone)
  3. General (administrators or those seeking a comprehensive
         overview)
 
This structure allows you to focus on the areas of greatest impact for your campus while still engaging with the full scope of the program. Over the course of this 1.5-day immersive experience, you will step into a day in the life of the Social Impact Lab by visiting classes, connecting with students and teachers, and participating in co-curricular programming alongside like-minded educators from across the country. Designed to be both meaningful and practical, the experience will leave you with tangible strategies and actionable takeaways to bring back to your school. 
 
 
BRAND NEW! COMING SOON!
The Social Impact Lab: Curriculum Intensive
Summer 2027
Registration will open Winter 2026.
 
This two-day workshop led by exemplar Hockaday educators will prepare you to build a social impact course rooted in values and objectives, featuring innovative experiences, academic rigor, and dynamic teaching tools to help you and your students connect their learning in a meaningful way to their community. 

Lindsey Seynhaeve, Director of Outreach and Sustainability, Indian Creek School

"It was an incredible opportunity to witness firsthand their commitment to cultivating purpose-driven students who are actively engaged in making a difference in their local community. Their dedication to fostering passion and instilling a sense of purpose among students is truly commendable. The vibrant culture of social impact that permeates their community serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when education meets purpose-driven action."

What you'll learn at the lab

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  • Melanie Robinson

    Director, The Dr. William B. Dean Institute for Social Impact

Social Impact Lab FAQs

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Do you have travel or hotel recommendations?

    Please click here to learn more about the best way to visit Hockaday and places to eat and stay in Dallas.

  • What is included in the registration fee?

    The registration fee includes a full day of immersive learning as well as a half day of workshops to support participants as they build out their own social impact takeaways.  Participants will also have full access to a library of digital resources created and curated by Hockaday's Institute for Social Impact.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided on Day 1 and a light breakfast provided on Day 2.  

  • Who can attend the Social Impact Lab?

    The Social Impact lab will have two pathways for attendees.  We offer a student track for visiting students to attend sessions, and classes, and meet with current Hockaday students to learn more about social impact through hands-on learning and discussions.  Teachers, administrators, and school employees will follow the educator track.  We will build time for adults who attend with their students to share their learning and reflect together on takeaways.  

Core Values

  • Leadership Leadership
    We recognize that today’s students have the potential to be leaders, not just in the future, but now.
  • Innovation Innovation
    We keep a pulse on emerging practices and trends and believe in pursuing new creative ideas that can change the world.
  • Empathy Empathy
    We seek to understand others and do so by working to abandon our assumptions and participating in honest open dialogue.
  • Community Community
    We are committed to supporting all members of our community in reaching their greatest potential.

Social Impact in Action

List of 3 news stories.

  • Biology Class Presents at Shark Tank

    At this year’s Biology, Impact, and the Zoo Shark Tank, our students proved that science and purpose are a powerful combination. 
     
    Read More

  • Second Grade Water Museum

    Each year, students in Second Grade learn valuable non-fiction reading, analysis, and writing skills in Language Arts. This year, each girl selected a topic concerning “water in our world,” connecting with both the Science curriculum and the Second Grade Social Impact theme, “The Environment.”
     
     
    Read More

  • Lower School Penguin Project

     First Grade and Fourth Grade joined forces yesterday to kick off our annual Penguin Project collaboration!
    Read More

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road
Dallas, TX 75229
(214) 363-6311
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.