On January 20, 2016, the St. Mark’s and Hockaday Parents’ Associations came together or their annual Joint Meeting. Hockaday Eugene McDermott Headmistress Liza Lee began the meeting by introducing special guest speaker Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.
Mayor Rawlings spoke about the important role parents and schools play in molding children into leaders. Pointing to self-esteem, humility, and common sense as some of the key characteristics of leadership, he lauded St. Mark’s and Hockaday as “North Stars,” setting the example in leadership education. Turning to the public school system, Mayor Rawlings expressed his desire to improve education for all Dallas students and to get parents more engaged in students’ lives.
“These kids are our kids,” the Mayor said. “This is not about dumbing down the system but about bringing everyone up to excellence, and we need everyone’s help to get there.”
Following Mayor Rawlings’ remarks, the St. Mark’s and Hockaday Heads of Schools addressed the parents and the slate of officers for the 2016–2017 school year was voted upon:
Parliamentarian: Kathy Mallick
President: Mary Beth Duffy
President-Elect: Debbie Jenevein
Vice President Communications: Claire Newman
Vice President Celebrate St. Mark’s: Abby Williams
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.