Leading with heart, creating community 

As a parent specialist, Beverley Gray serves her school with passion, supporting the families and students she encounters every day. At Billy Earl Dade Middle School, Gray acts as the bridge between school and home, fostering connection and a sense of care throughout the community. 

“I think a great parent specialist is able to connect with their surroundings and with the community they are a part of,” said Gray, who serves the only middle school for both Lincoln and James Madison high schools in South Dallas. “It’s important that you lead from your heart, and I always listen to what the parents’ needs are. I think that automatically shows other people that you care.”

Through a series of school events, Gray creates opportunities for families to bond. Two of her favorites are Grandparents Day and the school’s annual Turkey Trot.

With generations of families who have previously attended school in South Dallas, many grandparents are excited to be involved in their children’s school experiences. The celebration of their presence on Grandparents Day is a meaningful tradition in the school community. 

The Turkey Trot, held each year before the Thanksgiving break, offers families a day of fun and food. Last year, Whole Foods partnered with the school to provide bags of red potatoes and oranges, in addition to the turkeys handed out to families. 

“The family, the culture, the neighborhood, the community—it’s a very warm and loving place,” Gray said. “There is a generational history. When you share love here, you’re destined to receive an abundance of love from the community.”

A key part of Gray’s work as a parent specialist is developing meaningful relationships with families because parent support and engagement is key to student success. As a single mother, who raised a daughter who earned her doctoral degree, she knows how to support parents because she understands what many are experiencing. 

That is why she provides firsthand encouragement to other single parents, reminding them that their child can thrive too. 

“We focused on education. When my daughter was a toddler, we knew she was going to get a doctorate degree. That was our goal,” Gray said. “So the students here, and the parents, I just want them to be able to have that legacy of education, too.”

As a child, Beverley Gray attended Boude Storey Elementary School and even returned later in life to teach there for three years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Paul Quinn College.

The support Gray provides is not limited to encouragement. Alongside other team members, she also supports families by providing food and clothing for students. 

The on-campus food pantry ensures that basic necessities are available for  families within the school community.

Whether students continue on to Lincoln or Madison high school and eventually college, her goal is for students at Dade to feel that the school puts their well-being at the forefront as they prepare for academic success.

“The best thing to hear is when a parent says, ‘Beverley, thank you for taking care of my kids,’” Gray said.