Last Saturday September 19th Heartland residents bore witness to the dedication and ground breaking ceremony for the soon to be built, Barbara Walker Elementary School.
The first of seven Crandall ISD schools to be erected in the still developing 2,500 acre Heartland community, the Barbara Walker Elementary School, like all the schools sites in Heartland, has been strategically located at the center of residential and trail spaces to allow children easy access.
The innovative plan allows children to walk to schools rather than being driven, a positive impact for safety, convenience and the environment.
The dedication of Barbara Walker Elementary was part of a long time commitment by Ross Perot, Jr. and Hillwood Development Company, the developer of the Heartland Community.
Seven additional schools are planned and students from the district assisted in designing the community’s trail system which received the Award of Excellence from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Hillwood Development Company has also established the Heartland Education Foundation which will support programs in the Crandall ISD through a fund generated by a ½ of one percent of every real estate transaction in the Heartland community.
The dedication ceremony was attended by Dr. Larry Watson, Crandall ISD Superintendent, Ross Perot Jr., Chairman of Hillwood Development, Jessica Dykman, Principal Barbara Walker Elementary School, Tex York, President of the Crandall ISD Board of Directors and Carol Powell, the daughter of Barbara Walker.
Barbara Walker was a longtime teacher in the Crandall ISD and a longtime Crandall resident. She first taught in the Crandall ISD in 1944 and retired in 1984. She was exceptionally passionate about teaching and was committed to the success of every student.
Barbara Walker was affectionately known as a “teacher’s teacher” and sadly she passed away in 2005.
The Heartland Community is located in Kaufman County along Interstate 20 approximately 20 miles east of downtown Dallas and Barbara Walker Elementary School is located at 4060 Abbey Road in Heartland, Texas.