Charity Profile

Innovative Dallas school has children at all learning levels lined up to get in

The Rise School's practice of mixing delayed learning students with "typical learners" has resulted in a boost for all students.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

The Rise School of Dallas was built out of dedication. Wendy and John Poston wanted the best education possible for their son, William, who has Down syndrome. When they couldn’t find what they wanted in Dallas, they worked out a way to create it here.

That was 15 years ago. Today, Rise has developed a culture of dedication, where lead teachers love their jobs and stick with them, assistants get in line to move up, and children both with and without learning delays populate the waiting list.

The program is that good.

The key is that each classroom includes about seven children with Down syndrome or delayed learning, as well as three to five “typical learners,” those without any impediment to learning. This approach has given a boost to the whole range of students.

The school is housed at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where it is a ministry of the congregation. The school has five classrooms and operates year-round, with breaks similar to those in local school districts.

Rise maintains a 3:1 child-teacher ratio; each classroom has one lead teacher with two assistants. The school has partnerships with the University of Texas at Dallas and Texas Woman’s University for training and research.

Vote now for the Rise School of Dallas — or any of the other worthy local nonprofits — in the CultureMap Charity Challenge.

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Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to support the outstanding work of The Rise School of Dallas.

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away; he was 88.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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