Woodrow Wilson in the News
YOU'RE INVITED
Outside the Lines
Samuel Lynne Galleries MAP
1105 Dragon Street
Thursday, September 25; 7 - 9
After Party
The Cameron Gallery
1414 Dragon Street
9 ish
includes buffet dinner, beer, wine and cocktails
$40 in advance; $50 at door. Teachers; $30
What started out last spring as a simple fundraiser for the Woodrow Wilson Class of 11 for senior activities, the establishment of an Art Scholarship and to honor Art Teacher David Chapa has now turned into a true village party with a purpose and everyone is invited - friends and frenemies!
The evening includes mixing it up with friends, neighbors, and alumni while you sip cocktails, beer, wine and enjoy a delicious buffet and marveling at the works of artists including JD Miller, Philip J. Romano, Juanluis Gonzalez, Melanie Corradi, Cynthia Chartier, Ray Phillips, Gregory Beck, Chris Panatier and one of Mr. Chapa's own original works of art. The works in the gallery will be the grand opening exhibit for Samuel Lynne Galleries which opens September 19.
Mrs. Ruth Altshuler, class of 1940, will award the honor to Mr. Chapa on behalf of the class. He has been at Woodrow influencing budding Picassos, Warhol's and O'Keefe's for 24 years. And the Cameron Gallery just a few doors down from Samuel Lynne Galleries is throwing their doors open and hosting an after party shin-dig complete with cocktails, nibbles and desserts.
Never guessing this year's hurricane season would go coastal, the committee is dedicating a portion of the evening's proceeds to the American Red Cross for IKE victims on the Texas coast.
For ticket information and RSVP
Claire Hailey at 214.566.4378
mcfhailey@yahoo.com
Pay Pal available - email Claire
or mail
Outside the Lines c/o Claire Hailey
7029 Meadow Lake Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75214
Honorary Chair: Mrs. Ruth Altshuler
Co Chairs: Claire & Trey Hailey and Donna Harris & Keith Allen
Host Committee: Kathy & Scott Arnold, Alexis & Craig Adams, Bobbi Willhite & Gregg Hlavaty, Melinda & Christopher Kurzner, Michelle Love, Lola & Todd Lott, Maroy & Robert Merino, Karri & Doug Nichols, Ruth & Saul Ramirez, Laura & Allen Tepera, Anne Groben-Williams and Stephen Williams, Lisa & Bill Ziegler.
Woodrow Places in Top 2.5% of All Schools in the Country in Newsweek Ranking
(Top 1326 are in the Top 5%)
Woodrow placed ahead of high schools in Richardson, Plano, McKinney and Frisco.
Texas schools on the list: http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380
06:42 AM CST on Monday, March 3, 2008
The Public School Option
Woodrow luring more of area's affluent
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East Dallas parents living in sprawling estates around Lakewood Country Club have options to send their teenagers to the best private schools in Dallas while hardly noticing a dent in their pocketbooks. Instead, their children are attending Woodrow Wilson High School – not because of political correctness or financial pressure, but because parents are convinced that it's the best educational choice they can make for their kids.
While DISD officials talk about deeper parental involvement to advance their Dallas Achieves program, these parents are putting words into action.
Make no mistake, Woodrow is in a tough neighborhood. It is close to some of the fanciest real estate in the city but also next door to low-income blocks where crime and gang activity are persistent problems.
That dicey image might cause some Dallas parents to recoil in horror. But Woodrow's older alumni, recent graduates, parents and current students are declaring loudly that our worst presumptions are wrong. That's why people driving past big houses on Gaston Avenue or Lakewood Boulevard might notice red "Choose Woodrow" signs posted on their expansive and manicured front lawns.
Recently, one wealthy Lakewood homeowner sponsored a wine and cheese party specifically to answer questions and address any qualms that parents might have about Woodrow. Invitees included parents of children currently attending private schools in the area.
The hosts played up Woodrow's award-winning drama and choir programs, its band, sports teams and Advanced Placement classes. But they were frank when peppered with questions about some poor academic ratings, bullying and drug and alcohol consumption. It's a public school with public school problems, but none so severe that alumni and students would think of going anywhere else.
"We all had alternatives," PTA president Emily L. Martin reminded prospective students and parents at a school open house Tuesday. "We chose Woodrow."
This is a statement of confidence in public schools by people who would expect their children to qualify for Ivy League universities. And some have – with their Woodrow diplomas in hand. In recent years, it has outranked other North Texas schools in National Merit Scholarships and ranked among the top public schools in the nation in a 2006 Newsweek academic-performance survey.
Is it perfect? Clearly not. Another example of shortcomings was that the school's outstanding performance of Fiddler on the Roof last year had a notable absence of minorities in the cast.
But at a time when middle-class families – whites, blacks and Hispanics – are fleeing to the suburbs or private schools, the fact that students of all backgrounds are staying put at Woodrow provides the sincerest-possible endorsement any school could ask for.
The parents at Woodrow aren't just talking a good line. They're betting their children's education on it.
Danielle Drury Petters (WWW’85) to Lead Long
Although the news of a new principal for J.L. Long was a bit early last week, the ink is now dry, and the Dallas ISD made it official that Danielle Petters will take over the position.
J.L. Long has struggled during the past several years with administrator longevity — the last three head principals have each been on the job for three or less years before moving on. Even with dedicated staff, parents, and students this can be a trying and stressful situation for a school. Petters plans for this trend to end.
Dr. Jennifer Smith Jones was the principal at Long for the past year, but during the summer resigned from DISD for personal reasons. Randall Farmer was assigned the position of interim principal for the past month and significantly helped the staff prepare for the opening of school.
The district responded quickly to fill the position permanently and interviews took place last week. A Request For Principal (RFP) committee comprising school faculty, parents, PTA, and SBDM, short for site-based decision making, members, and community partners helped interview candidates.
After this step and further review by DISD officials, Petters was named as the new Long principal.
Petters brings experience as a DISD administrator as well as having grown up in Lakewood herself. She has been the principal for the past six years at Caillet Elementary School in north Dallas. She also spent seven years in the classroom at Woodrow Wilson High School.
Petters also attended Woodrow as a student and now lives in Lakewood with her family.
Karen Scherger, PTA president, has already begun collaborating with Petters and said, "I am excited to work with Danielle Petters as our new principal. She has some lofty goals for J.L. Long, as do all of the teachers and parents. We are all thrilled with the progress the kids have made over the last few years."
Scherger also wanted to remind all the Long parents who have not gotten into the PTA game yet that this is the time to do it, "we hope to get more parent involvement this year in tutoring and mentoring roles as well as in our PTA."
School kicks off Aug. 25. Sixth-graders will be the newbies but should feel prepared following the success of the first sixth-grade Buccaneer Camp last week.
"Everything was really fun at Buccaneer Camp, all the games and other activities, and meeting new people," sixth-grader Leslie Scherger said.
She also felt like the experience "will help on the first day of school because we learned to get around Long better."
Once the first week frenzy is gone, be sure to mark the calendars for two events the second week of school, Individual Picture Day on Sep. 2 and PTA Board Meeting on Sep. 4 at 7 p.m.
The consensus across the community is that Long has made significant strides during the past few years - especially the 2007-08 school year. Continued growth and improvement, especially in discipline and academics, are this year's goals for everyone involved with Long.
Article: http://www.lakewood-now.net/view/article/4183
Woodrow Seniors 2009 paint parking lot and Wildcat Way (aka The Horseshoe) photos (they are creative!):
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Check out the MANY photos here: http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/photosParkingLot2008.htm
BRICK ORDERS
The "Walk of Fame" Brick order deadline has been extended one more time until September 10. This will be the absolute last extension as work on the walkway is soon to begin. Please contact Susan Matusewicz at smatusewicz@briggs-freeman.com to order a brick at $25 per
This year Woodrow placed second in state in Mock Trial Competition. Stephanie Martin won State in Swimming and Kelvin Furlough won State in Track.
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J.L. Long Coach Jack Keck
KECK, JACK, Born: 9-29-26 to Ross and Addie Keck of Nocona, TX. Died of a heart attack on 2-21-08. He was 81 years old. He came to Dallas from Bowie, Tx. in 1957 to J.L. Long Jr. High in the Dallas Independent School District. He retired from David W. Carter High School as the head football coach in May of 1982. His wife, Dorothy Keck preceded him in death in April of 1994. He now coaches the heavenly team and another championship season has started. He will be missed by many family and friends. He was best known for his inspiring character and good sportsmanship on or off the field. He is survived by his 3 brothers and 2 sisters and wife Jane Keck. His son, Greg Keck lives in San Antonio and flies for Southwest Airlines. He has twin daughters, Bren Keck of Bossier City, La. and Gwen Wren of Rockwall, TX. Gwen works as a counselor in the Garland Independent School District. Jack has 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Retired Dallas principal and coach is still a winner
With 32 years in Dallas ISD, a retired principal can throw a mean softball; he led Mount Vernon to a landmark victory
12:00 AM CST on Saturday, November 10, 2007
By SAM BLAIR / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Seneca, an old Roman wise guy, said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Wayne Pierce figures in his case it happened when he coached Don Meredith and his Mount Vernon High School teammates to a surprising championship in the 1954 Dr Pepper High School Basketball Tournament in Dallas.
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Wayne Pierce was principal of Woodrow Wilson High from 1971 to 1987, part of a 32-year Dallas ISD career. Last month, he was in Mount Vernon celebrating its 1954 state championship basketball team, which included future Cowboys QB Don Meredith |
That led to a coaching job at Hillcrest, then a legendary career as principal at Woodrow Wilson High.
"I've always thought of him as Mr. Wildcat," said Ruth Pendergrass, an English teacher at Woodrow for 22 years who still subs regularly in the classroom and school office. "I can't think of Woodrow without thinking of Wayne Pierce."
"We think of him as the creator of Wildcat Pride," said principal Ruth Vail, the first alumnus to lead the school. "He made everyone partake in the celebrations that create fond memories such as pep rallies, Homecoming, and the true Wildcat."
Now, at 81, Mr. Pierce remains bright-eyed, personable, trim and athletic. Some might consider him something of a legend in over-75, slow-pitch competition, pitching back-to-back no-hitters in September to help the Texas Classics win the major division of Senior Softball World Championships at Dalton, Ga. He scoffs at such praise.
"Pitching to batters who come to the plate on their walkers is no big deal," he said.
No one scoffed at what his Mount Vernon team did in December 1954, however. Mr. Pierce guided the little Class 2A school past the best of the 4A Dallas schools to five victories and the title. Mount Vernon beat Woodrow, 72-58, in the final.
Mr. Meredith was the superstar of a team playing an exciting, up-tempo style that Mr. Pierce had taught since he began coaching them as sixth-graders in 1949. The rangy athlete, who later won fame in football as a Southern Methodist University all-American and the Dallas Cowboys' first franchise quarterback, set both single-game and tournament scoring records.
"We had a very progressive coach," old Mount Vernon Tiger Bobby Rich said at a team reunion last month. "He told us, 'Rebound and fast break. If that doesn't work, throw the ball to Don.' "
P.C. Cobb, athletics director for Dallas schools, was impressed by Mr. Pierce.
"He said there was an opening at Hillcrest and asked if I would be interested," Mr. Pierce said. "I loved Mount Vernon. It was my hometown, and it was hard to leave that team. Don and most of the others would be back as seniors the next year. But Hillcrest was a big school."
Mr. Pierce began a 32-year career in the Dallas ISD in 1955. He built a successful basketball program at Hillcrest, then moved to Woodrow as assistant principal. In 1969, he moved to Florence Junior High as principal for one year, then returned to Woodrow as principal.
"I was the luckiest person in the world to go to Woodrow," he said recently when he returned to visit the three-story, red-brick building on Glasgow Drive. "Then, as now, we had wonderful support from Lakewood families."
One of those Lakewood families provided Woodrow with its current principal.
Ruth Allen, class of '91, now is Ruth Allen Vail and in her third year as principal. Her father, the late Dr. Edward G. Allen, also was a Woodrow alumnus ('65) who moved his family to Lakewood in 1984 after serving 11 years as a medical missionary in Mexico. Her daughter, Karissa, will enter Woodrow in 2010, adding to the school's numerous three-generation families.
Fittingly, at a 1,400-student school that is 68 percent Hispanic, 20 percent Anglo, 11 percent African-American and 1 percent other ethnicities, Mrs. Vail speaks Spanish as naturally as English.
Her mother, Sara Ruiz, is a native of Mexico City and was a dentist who met Dr. Allen when they worked in clinics in Mexico City.
Ruth Vail knows Woodrow, its spirit and traditions, and admires Mr. Pierce for what he built there. He was the principal that guided the school through its demographic transition.
"I think that he is an inspiration to all educators, especially for the principals," she said. "I think that his attitude toward education and traditions lives on."
Mr. Wildcat and his wife, Jean, still live in East Dallas, and reunions with Woodrow people are frequent.
"I see kids all the time," he said, referring to alumni now in their 40s and 50s, "and they say, 'Mr. Pierce, you may not remember me but ... .' "
Then, with a friendly, small-town manner which prevails in East Dallas as well as Mount Vernon, he smiles, calls them by name and makes them feel like the most important people in the world. And to Wayne Pierce, they are.
Sam Blair is a freelance writer in Dallas.
samblair26@yahoo.com