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
– 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
-
Civil Discourse
Fostering respectful, open dialogue where diverse perspectives are valued and critical thinking is encouraged. -
Complex Problem Solving & Imperfect Solutions
Teaching students to approach challenges with creativity, resilience, and adaptability, recognizing that solutions may be iterative and not always right the first time. -
Leadership and Social Influence
Cultivating the skills to inspire and positively impact others through ethical actions, decision making and collaboration.
-
Real-World Skills for the Jobs of Tomorrow
Equipping students with practical, adaptable skills for navigating and succeeding in the ever-changing world beyond the classroom. -
Self Advocacy and Agency
Empowering students to confidently express their needs and take ownership of their learning and personal growth. -
Synthesizing
Developing the ability to integrate diverse information and viewpoints into cohesive, informed decisions or insights.
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.
-
Grace Embrey '17 Visits Investment Club
Grace Embrey ’17, an Associate at Goldman Sachs, visited the Investment Club and the AP Economics class yesterday!Read More -
Student Podcast Discusses High School Experience
After a lesson in Health class this fall, Class of 2028 student Anya B. created her own podcast, “Into Uncharted Waters,” which she records in Hockaday’s studio.Read More -
Coding Collaboration
Read MoreFirst Graders headed to Upper School yesterday to assist with and AP Computer Science project! The Computer Science students are writing an animal guessing game using Java programming language. -
Capital One Coding Club
Middle School’s Capital One Coding Club worked with Capital One mentors today to build a website homepage!Read More -
Susan Keene '85 Visits Financial Literacy Class
Upper School’s Financial Literacy class heard from Susan Keene ’85 last month about mortgages, rent payments, loan applications, and more! Susan works as a senior loan officer at Cornerstone Home Lending. -
Teacher Named EconHero of the Month
Congratulations to Upper School teacher Kristen Blevins, who was named the December 2024 EconHero by Econiful!Read More -
Nutrition at Hockaday
As part of Third Grade's Science and Social Impact course, girls visited Hockaday's dining team to gather evidence to support or deny this statement: SAGE Dining provides food that helps Hockaday students choose the healthy, nutritious foods they need to be well.Read More -
The Scientific Process in Social Impact Chemistry
Upper School's Social Impact Chemistry classes worked on modeling the scientific process this week.Read More -
Financial Literacy in Upper School
Upper School’s Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy class welcomed Hockaday CFO Katie Leto last week!Read More -
Lower School Dream Lab Comes to Life
As part of Hockaday’s ongoing Innovation & Collaboration efforts, Lower School students have enjoyed visiting the Dream Lab, a repurposed area of the library.Read More -
Math + Impact
Lower School students held a post-Halloween candy drive and donated extra candyRead More -
Students Place Third in Coding Competition
Two Upper School students were honored at the competition.Read More -
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.Read More -
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.Read More -
Creating Dye From Discards
Lower School art students worked with SAGE, Hockaday’s food provider, to salvage vegetable skins and peels for art projects.Read More -
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.Read More -
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.Read More -
The Science of Metals
Social Impact Chemistry has been busy in the lab this week experimenting to determine various metals’ specific heat capacities.Read More -
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?”Read More -
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.Read More
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. Jeanna Wieselmann 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.
SMU Research Fellows
The inaugural cohort of Hockaday Research Fellows will consist of five teachers who will partner with Dr. Jeanna Wieselmann 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.
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.