Katie McDaniel '10 is right on key. She's got the beat and is in tune with her students at Highland Park Middle School. A third generation HPHS graduate, Katie is the Choral Director at the middle school and truly loves her job.
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Who is Katie McDaniel or Miss Mac as her students call her?
- Bradfield, MIS, HPMS and HPHS Graduate
- University of Oklahoma Graduate
- Bachelor's degree in Music Education
- Currently finishing her master’s degree
- When in High School:
- Lad and Lassies President
- Park Version
- Musicals: Back to the 80’s, Annie Get Your Gun, High School Musical and Good News
- All the school plays
- Hi-Lites
- National Honors Society
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Family History- Three Generations of HPHS Graduates
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Katie's parents, Lucy Morrison McDaniel '80 and John McDaniel '83 were both high school sweethearts. Lucy was starring in Linda Raya’s musical production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ when she and John started to date. Lucy had roles in several other productions including West Side Story and Oklahoma.
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After Lucy graduated, John continued the tradition with starring roles in Flower Drum Song and Princess and the Pea. John also starred in the senior play 'Blythe Spirit' where the house roared with laughter from John’s antics on stage. Katie’s aunt, Paige McDaniel '79, also had roles in several of the productions at HPHS including West Side Story, Oklahoma, and many others.
- In 2014, Lucy, John, Paige and Katie sung the HPHS school fight song for HPISD’s Centennial celebration
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Lucy Morrison McDaniel '80 and husband John McDaniel '83 at her 40th high school reunion in October 2022. |
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Her paternal grandmother, Jeanette Story Morrison '41 was awarded the Sweetheart Award, Blanket Award, and many others. She was also the editor of the Bagpipe. Her grandparents, Jeanette and Lou Morrison, never missed an HP football game at the Highlander Stadium.
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Her great-grandfather, Frank Story, was an HPHS teacher who taught multiple languages and was known as the teacher who rode his blue bike to school every day, even into retirement. Frank was a well-known substitute teacher who would entertain the students with stories from his days in World War I as an interpreter. Frank received, posthumously, the Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
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Katie always had the goal of becoming a teacher and working at HPISD. She was dedicated to fulfilling her goal. She asked the Dean of the Music school at OU for approval to student-teach in Dallas. Katie commuted to Norman, OK once a week for her capstone so she could student-teach at Hyer Elementary. She always knew she wanted to do something with music and teach. One Christmas she asked for an overhead projector to teach her little sister, Caroline '14 and all her dolls. |
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Katie started teaching at HPMS/MIS upon college graduation. The choir program was small with only 30 students; four of them being boys. Katie was determined to change the mindset and stereotype of choir. Her fun personality drew the students in. She worked all summer to transform her classroom into a vibrant, fun, and inviting space where students wanted to hangout and “escape” the routine parts of school. Her second year of teaching choir numbers skyrocketed - 150 in the choral program with 72 of the students being boys.
- Katie strives to make her classroom a place where, when students walk in, they immediately escape the stress of school. They walk in and feel safe, supported like someone has their back, comfortable to be themselves, and most importantly loved. Her room exudes Raider school spirit.
- Katie's first year, when the numbers were very low, made it a point to go to every home sporting event or performance to cheer on the students.
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Making Students Feel Supported
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Katie often takes input from students on what they would like to see in the classroom. She allows the students to have a voice on what her class looks like.
- Katie is patient and uses restorative practices instead of an authoritarian approach to classroom management.
- As an HPHS graduate, she has more empathy for what the students are going through since she experienced the same things.
- She is open about sharing her learning difference, dyslexia, to help normalize and connect with students.
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Click on the icon above to hear the HPMS Pop Choir in action perform during a remote concert last year during COVID. Katie creatively thought of a way to showcase the talent in a fun and interactive away.
Thank you Katie for your passion, creativity and joy as as a teacher!
HPISD is lucky to have you. We are proud you returned to teach in the district that taught you so much.
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Alumni Membership - Join Today! |
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Join or renew your
Highland Park High School
Alumni Association Membership!
. Our HPHS alums are doing great things around the world and it's a great time to be a Scot.
We have over 3,100 dues paying members and would love to have you be a part of our growing alumni association!
Cele Dunlap Johnsen '60 loves the fact that she can easily keep in touch with her fellow alums. Thank you Cele for your membership!
Once a Scot, Always a Scot.
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LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE A TICKET |
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Last call for the 2022 Scot Times Class Notes!
Send us your news and we publish it in our annual publication coming out in May!
Send your news to Meg.Boyd@hpef.org
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Scottie Scheffler '14 FORE sure knows how to win! |
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First time PGA tour winner Scottie Scheffler '14 beat #4 in the world, Patrick Cantlay, in a three-hole playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Congratulations Scottie!
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Scots for Stafford- Matthew Stafford '06 wins Super Bowl LVI |
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Congratulations to Matthew Stafford '06 on leading the Los Angeles Rams to win the 2022 Super Bowl. Stafford and the LA Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.
The Park Cities Community showed their support all week outfitted in blue and gold and Scots for Stafford shirts!
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Snow in February seems to be common!
HPHS Classmates in February 1966 enjoy a snow day on the front lawn of the high school. Mark Shriver '67, Tony McClung '67, Fred Lundberg '67, and Ked Rike '68 practice their snowball marksmanship!
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