We would like to formally introduce Ms. McKaela Hockenberry as our English 1 and Professional Communications teacher at New Deal High School. Ms. Hockenberry started her teaching career during the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year, but she is no stranger to New Deal ISD.
Ms. Hockenberry is a 2015 graduate of New Deal High School, where she was actively involved. She not only served as the President of the National Honor Society, and wrote for the New Deal ISD newspaper and competed in UIL Academic events, but she was also a member of the Lady Lions’ athletic program competing on the varsity basketball, tennis, cross-country, and track teams. She competed at the State Track and Field Meet three years as a pole vaulter, and once as a member of the spring relay; she currently holds the school record in pole vault. Ms. Hockenberry was also a cheerleader and was both the Homecoming Queen in 2014 and Ms. New Deal.
After graduation from high school, she attended Texas Tech University where she majored in English Language Arts and Literature and minored in History. While at Tech, Ms. Hockenberry was inducted into the Texas Tech Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity, the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. During which time she also received Dean’s List Honors.
During her first semester of teaching, we were forced to move to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked what she learned most from her first year she said, “Last year taught me to be patient and flexible! I also learned to appreciate the individuality of each student’s learning type.” She intends to take those
NDISD Welcomes Ms. McKaela Hockenberry to NDHS English Department
By Tyler Seeley lessons and apply them this year. She expressed that it definitely warms her heart to return to her alma mater to teach. “New Deal has been my home for longer than I can remember,” she said. “I have spent the majority of my life in this high school’s halls. There is nowhere I would rather start my career.”
Ms. Hockenberry also gets to teach alongside her best friend - her mom, Mrs. Julie Hill. She loves to have her mom as a professional mentor, and her mom has helped her to feel more comfortable and at home in her transition from student to faculty member. Outside of the classroom, she loves to spend time with her family, watch movies, and read whenever time allows.
“I am ecstatic to have her teach next door to me!” said Mrs. Hill. “I am super proud of her, and I am thrilled that she chose to become an English teacher; she brings with her fresh ideas and technological innovation that is always needed. New Deal is the very best place to be...Once a Lion, Always a Lion!”
Ms. Hockenberry is a 2015 graduate of New Deal High School, where she was actively involved. She not only served as the President of the National Honor Society, and wrote for the New Deal ISD newspaper and competed in UIL Academic events, but she was also a member of the Lady Lions’ athletic program competing on the varsity basketball, tennis, cross-country, and track teams. She competed at the State Track and Field Meet three years as a pole vaulter, and once as a member of the spring relay; she currently holds the school record in pole vault. Ms. Hockenberry was also a cheerleader and was both the Homecoming Queen in 2014 and Ms. New Deal.
After graduation from high school, she attended Texas Tech University where she majored in English Language Arts and Literature and minored in History. While at Tech, Ms. Hockenberry was inducted into the Texas Tech Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity, the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. During which time she also received Dean’s List Honors.
During her first semester of teaching, we were forced to move to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked what she learned most from her first year she said, “Last year taught me to be patient and flexible! I also learned to appreciate the individuality of each student’s learning type.” She intends to take those
NDISD Welcomes Ms. McKaela Hockenberry to NDHS English Department
By Tyler Seeley lessons and apply them this year. She expressed that it definitely warms her heart to return to her alma mater to teach. “New Deal has been my home for longer than I can remember,” she said. “I have spent the majority of my life in this high school’s halls. There is nowhere I would rather start my career.”
Ms. Hockenberry also gets to teach alongside her best friend - her mom, Mrs. Julie Hill. She loves to have her mom as a professional mentor, and her mom has helped her to feel more comfortable and at home in her transition from student to faculty member. Outside of the classroom, she loves to spend time with her family, watch movies, and read whenever time allows.
“I am ecstatic to have her teach next door to me!” said Mrs. Hill. “I am super proud of her, and I am thrilled that she chose to become an English teacher; she brings with her fresh ideas and technological innovation that is always needed. New Deal is the very best place to be...Once a Lion, Always a Lion!”