27 Oct 2007
Celebration Honors Lifelong Educator, Author and Civic Leader
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District officials were joined by community leaders, parents, students and elected officials Saturday, Oct. 27, for the dedication ceremony of Harold Wendell Lang Sr. Middle School, 1678 Chenault St.
The Lang Middle School dedication celebrates the second of three new Dallas ISD schools opened this school year as part of the 2002 Bond Program. The middle school serves students from Frank Guzick, George W. Truett, S.S. Conner and Edna Rowe elementary schools.
The school is named for Harold Wendell Lang Sr., whose passion for education led him to earn several advanced degrees including a doctorate in education from the North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). For nearly 30 years he was a Dallas ISD educator, principal and administrator. A noted author, activist and civic leader, Lang was appointed director and principal of the Lincoln High School Renewal Project, overseeing the construction and opening of Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet High School in 1975.
Lang Middle School students added excitement to the dedication, with performances from the Pioneer Steppers and choir ensemble. The Lang Jazz Quartet, cheerleading squad and Leadership Cadet Corps participated in the dedication ceremonies. Principal Robert Peters Jr. formally opened the dedication by welcoming everyone and thanking the voters of Dallas for making the new school possible.
County Commissioner John Wiley Price presented a resolution from the Commissioners Court in commemoration of the dedication. Dallas ISD Trustee Ron Price, District 9, praised the accomplishments of the man for whom the school was named. Trustee Price thanked the many people that attended the dedication ceremony and hailed Lang Middle School as a great example of Dallas ISD's finest and best. "We are proud that this school carries the name of Harold Wendell Lang Sr., a true education pioneer who made great contributions to our city and schools. Lang students: the individual for whom your school is named was not afraid to dream big and neither should you."
Harold Wendell Lang Sr. was remembered and his life celebrated as his son Harold Lang Jr. spoke about the love, dedication and commitment his father had for Dallas ISD and education in general. Lang student council members delivered essays reflecting the lives of Harold Lang Sr., as well as Ms. Myrtle B. Salone, for whom the school's auditorium is named, and George Dawson Sr., whose name graces the school's media center.
Lang Middle School is a three-story, 170,000-square-foot facility located near Buckner and I-30. It accommodates 1,200 students in grades six, seven and eight. Lang Middle School features a two-story atrium inside the school's entrance with soaring canvas wind sails, 39 core academic classrooms, three special education classrooms, nine science labs, computer labs, art and music rooms, a performance-style auditorium, and a cafeteria with a landscaped exterior view.
The district's 2002 bond program funded 20 new schools, more than 33 major additions and renovations to nearly every campus. To date, 19 new schools and 137 of 148 planned renovations have been completed. Fifteen hundred forty-seven new classrooms have been added across the district with the capacity to serve more than 30,000 students.
The next scheduled bond-related event is the dedication of Larry G. Smith Elementary School, Saturday, Nov. 3.