Christian Education

AT A GLANCE: CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Our school currently serves 230 students in grades PreK2-6th (ages 2-12) who benefit from St. Philip’s rigorous, nurturing, and dynamic Christian-based education.

BIG XII Makes Big Impact on St. Philip’s

This past summer, The Big 12 Conference, in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers Initiative, transformed one of our classrooms into a state-of-the-art technology lab and media center to benefit students and the community.

Additionally, St. Philip's School and Community Center was honored to host Media Day for the Big XII Conference - Women's Basketball Tipoff on October 16! It proved to be a real treat for our students. Our Early Childhood classrooms were filled with players reading to our youngest scholars AND our middle school film/media students received official credentials to participate alongside ESPN and other major media groups.

Oklahoma Coach Sherri Coale is interviewed by one of our students. Photo by Lisa Parke, Big 12 Conference Iowa State Bridget Carleton And Ashley Joens reading to students. Photo by Lisa Parke, Big 12 Conference St. Philip's film/media students showing off their press credentials. Photo by Lisa Parke, Big 12 Conference

Meet St. Philip’s Instructional Leadership Team

Gwendolyn Barjon, Science Lead/Director of Innovation Tia Stevens, Middle School Lead Telissha Wesson, Early Childhood Lead Tamasha Govan, Math Lead Deana Wall, Student Support Services Alicia “Iv” Holmes, Fine Arts Director Ramona Bailey, Student Support Services Lead Jacquelyn Andrews, ELAR Lead Sheila Pate, Lower School Lead Ramona Thomas, Social Studies Lead

Early Childhood Program Reaches Capacity

Half of St. Philip’s School and Community Center’s student body now reside in the Crystal Charity Ball Early Childhood wing of the campus. The Early Childhood program, which serves children ages 2 – 5 years old, also reached its capacity this school year. This is a direct result of intentional investment and support made in the program these last four years.

Crystal Charity Ball, Gradus, Jack and Jill Foundation, the Lutz Family, and other partners enabled St. Philip’s to hire additional faculty, teaching assistants and an Early Childhood Lead, implement new curriculum, and expand our technology offerings to our little scholars. Our Early Childhood program is stronger than ever and more affordable, on average, than daycare. We are ecstatic that this vital program has a growing reputation as a stellar, affordable, full day, and working family friendly option in the community.

St. Philip’s School and Community Center is proud to offer a dynamic Spanish program to its entire student body. We have two faculty dedicated to Spanish instruction – one for Early Childhood and one for Lower and Middle School. This year, we began implementing a new curriculum, Calico Spanish. Through its structure, students will gradually advance from novice to high performing by the time they graduate 6th grade. Our students are gaining not only an understanding of the language but also an appreciation of the culture and history of Spanish speaking countries around the world. Faculty and students have jumped right in with excitement, and we are already seeing learning gains during class time.

¡Aprendiendo español en St. Philip's!

Ollimpaxqui Ballet Company provided a great finish to our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration!

St. Philip’s Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

ADAM DOMINGUEZ is the Director of Operations. He enjoys spending time with his wife and friends. He appreciates the family atmosphere at St. Philip’s and loves that the faculty and staff are very friendly. FUN FACT: He has been a devout Cowboys fan since birth.

VALERIA DUPREE is the fourth grade ELAR/Social Studies and Fifth grade ELAR Teacher. Music is an everpresent theme in her hobbies, as she likes to sing, dance, and listen to all genres of her favorite music. Family is important to her. For Mrs. Dupree, one of the greatest blessings of working at St. Philip’s is being able to work alongside her brothers and sisters in Christ and use her teaching gift as ministry. “The faculty, staff, and students here are phenomenal!” FUN FACT: She turned down an opportunity to record music shortly before moving to Texas.

DEBRA HAIRSTON comes to us as the new Donor Management Specialist and as a former volunteer. When she is not reading novels, you can find her traveling and spending time with her family and friends. As a volunteer, she learned of the impact St. Philip’s has on the community, beyond educating kids. “It’s great to be a part of the effort.” FUN FACT: Ms. Hairston’s love of shopping stemmed from her love of sewing, creating patterns, and wanting to be a fashion designer when she was younger.

CHRISTINA HOOD joins the St. Philip’s family as the 3rd Grade Math and Science Teacher. Although her free time is mostly spent with her two little ones, when she can, she loves to curl up with a good book and enjoys writing poetry. She likes working at St. Philip’s because Jesus is at the center of it all. “I love being able to pray for and with my students in class. I love seeing the students singing about Jesus in chapel. I love St. Philip’s because here, we are unashamed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.” FUN FACT: Mrs. Hood has been married to her husband for six years, and they have two amazing kids.

JASMINE HYDER has a tremendous love for theater and singing that makes her role as the new Theater Teacher that much sweeter. Being a teacher here is bigger than just a job for Ms. Hyder. It provides her a platform to extend her God-given gifts to young scholars. She enjoys chapel because it keeps her grounded and starts the day off in a spiritual way and free from worry. The hungry disciplined minds of our students keep her motivated and her colleagues treat her like family. “By the end of the day, I feel blessed and eager to come right back to fulfill God’s plan.” FUN FACT: Her one-year old daughter keeps her busy and exploring new things.

BECKY MADOLE loves St. Philip’s so much, she has returned as Senior Community Development Advisor, after a six-year absence. In her free time, she loves being active and spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew. Her hobbies include listening to podcasts, any form of fun exercise, and painting. She feels that there is truly nowhere like St. Philip’s. “It is God’s miracle on Pennsylvania Avenue. The leadership, people, and mission make working here extremely fulfilling.” FUN FACT: She is a former 1st Grade teacher in our Lower School.

KEDRIC MCKNIGHT is St. Philip’s Chief Operating Officer. In addition to his love of writing, he loves listening to jazz, gospel, and R&B. Some of his hobbies include writing non-fiction and poetry, golfing, hunting, and traveling. “I love the servant leadership and community development

aspect of St. Philip’s. I also truly enjoy being instrumental in the social and academic development of youth.” FUN FACT: He is a thrill-seeker and likes to zip-line, bungee jump, and ride 4-wheelers and dirt bikes.

PASSION NEAL is the Teacher’s Assistant to our Kindergarten team. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music and traveling. Photography is a hobby that Ms. Neal truly loves. The environment at 1600 Pennsylvania is what she loves most about working here. FUN FACT: Visiting Africa is at the top of her bucket list.

TOURÉ PRIDE is the Marketing and Social Media Manager and a new member of the Philanthropy team. She loves to read, travel, and listen to music in her free time. You can usually find her working out or spending time with her dogs for fun. She loves that St. Philip’s is a fun, educational environment that gives back to the community and that everyone in the Philanthropy department has great energy! Mrs. Pride is also an alum of the Community Center, having played basketball for the Saints as a child. FUN FACT: “I have two black dogs named K-Ci & JoJo that act like human babies. No seriously, they act like real children!”

KEITH ROYAL is the new Librarian. He provides more than just books to check out, he affords students with the skills for interacting with knowledge and critical thinking. In his free time, he enjoys reading speculative fiction by African American authors and communication theory. “I like working at St. Philip’s because of its vision for the community. There is a sense of purpose and urgency here that is couched in a creative environment that truly appeals to me.” FUN FACT: He once took second place in a radio promotion where he rapped about soap while dressed in a bathrobe, in the middle of a mall. BREANNA TURNLEY joins the Philanthropy team as the Individual and Alumni Giving Manager. Her hobbies include traveling, creating art, and writing. When she is not shopping with friends or being a makeup geek, she spends her time serving her sorority. As an alum, she returns to St. Philip’s to give back to the place that poured so much into her. She says that St. Philip’s laid the foundation for love of self, culture, and humanity. “The amazing people here nurtured my spirit for learning and for that I will be forever grateful.” Ms. Turnley is peacock proud to be a part of this family. FUN FACT: Ms. Turnley is a lover of all things HBCU. She is a 4th generation Dillard University graduate.

LAWANDA WILLIAMSON FLETCHER is a singing, dancing, sleep-loving awesome PreK3 teacher. She loves spending time with her family. FUN FACT: She was a member of Jackson State University’s Prancing J-settes.

Why St. Philip’s? Three members of our community share why they choose St. Philip’s

SHEILA PATE, 2nd Grade Math and Science Teacher Being a seasoned teacher at St. Philip’s School for over 20 years pretty much sums it up. I received the buy in years ago and here I am now, still buying into the mission of St. Philip’s School and Community Center. God has sustained me and kept me here doing what he has gifted me with: putting my talents to work in helping build and uplift the next generations. I am very passionate about teaching children, building their character, and enjoying the many light bulb glowing moments. These, I call my phenomenal moments. As a teacher, I recognize I have the future in my hands. I have driven and devoted myself towards excellence.

St. Philip’s is a family-oriented community. The Community Center has offered many opportunities for me to volunteer and become familiar with the neighborhood. For me, St. Philip’s is an exquisite piece of art in the community, and I am more than thankful to be a part of this beautiful handcrafted artwork that God has painted here at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in South Dallas.

RUTH WILLIAMS, Alumni Grandparent When my granddaughter, Megan, was three, our family initiated a search for just the right school. We had constructed a good foundation and wanted a school to build on what we started. St. Philip’s had a great reputation; therefore, we looked there first. Immediately after Megan visited with the Principal and Pre-K Teachers, our task was completed. An instant connection was formed, and Megan was excited to “start school.”

Over the nine years that Megan attended St. Philip’s, the impact has been extremely rewarding. St. Philip’s instilled leadership, confidence, respect for herself and others, and a commitment to achieve academic excellence daily. At St. Philip’s, Megan learned how to grow emotionally, mature spiritually, and become educationally astute. In relationship to her purpose, this school presented the grand opportunity for her to experience - daily - the love of God, while achieving an amazing educational journey toward excellence! St. Philip’s also prepared Megan for her current school – Hockaday – where she is thriving. Our family believes that we belonged and still belong at St. Philip’s School and Community Center.

DONNA ELDER, Current and Alumni Parent As my husband and I were discussing why we chose St. Philip’s, we talked about the positive impact the school, teachers, and student body had on our oldest son who is now 23 and matriculated to St. Mark’s School after graduating from St. Philip’s. We wanted to ensure our 9-year-old son, Israel, had the same opportunities.

We believe it is important for him to receive a Christian education that strengthens the values and biblical foundation we are trying to instill in his life. Nurturing and validation by those who share the same culture and values make it easier for him to feel accepted and understood. THIS is the village, and here at St. Philip’s School and Community Center, the village works.

For us, there is no question that St Philip’s is the cornerstone of our children’s education.