Honorary Alumni: Peggy Wakeland H’25
Peggy Wakeland H’25 graduated from Kennedale High School in 1970. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1975 and a Master of Education from Texas Christian University in 1999. Now in her 50th year as an educator, Peggy taught mathematics for 18 years in Tarrant County public schools and served 32 years at Fort Worth Country Day in the Upper School.
Peggy believes her role as an educator is to motivate students to learn and to create a learning environment that enables all students to thrive. To her, teaching is about the student/teacher relationship, in addition to the curriculum being taught.
During her time in public schools, Peggy taught math to junior and senior high school students. She also coached for most of those years. When transitioning to the independent school environment at FWCD, Peggy decided to focus on teaching mathematics. She was given the opportunity to work as an administrator beginning in 1996, when she took on the role of Assistant Head of Upper School. She served in this role for 20-plus years before achieving her dream role—Head of Upper School—in August 2021. She remained in this position until May 2025.
Some of the highlights of her work as an administrator include chairing FWCD’s Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Committee in 1997-98 and then being named a Blue Ribbon School in 1998-99; developing and managing a freshman study skills program; creating a class-level deans cadre to support advisors; redesigning the advisory program to include a freshman emphasis; working as the Director of Scheduling while also the Assistant Head of Upper School (implementing multiple changes over the years to include rotation options and a block schedule). Peggy was a Who’s Who Among American Teachers (nominated by a student), a recipient of the Bayard H. Friedman Hero Award (through Score-A-Goal in the Classroom), and the recipient of the Falcon Club Old Sport Award (presented by FWCD’s Athletic Department).
Peggy’s current role at FWCD is new for her and for the School. As Alumni Relations Liaison, Peggy travels to colleges and universities where FWCD’s youngest alumni are enrolled. The purpose is to re-engage these young people, with the goal of maintaining close relationships with them as they navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Most recently and most cherished by Peggy are the honors bestowed upon her by the Class of 2025. During the spring of 2025, the class requested to rename the top award given to a graduating senior at FWCD, The Falcon Award, to the Peggy Wakeland Falcon Award. Additionally, the class endowed the award during their graduation ceremony by establishing a monetary prize to be given to the future recipients of this award.
