Head of School

Shelly Sender serves as the Head of School for The Compass School of Texas. Shelly has been dedicated to the field of education for 43 years. She graduated from Southern Methodist University, where she received her degree in psychology, followed by a Master of Education degree.

Shelly lives in Dallas, and has three amazing children. She has pioneered the establishment and growth of several educational institutes by creating a thriving school community. Personal relationships and inquiry-based learning, in addition to a strong academic foundation, are truly relevant in her work with children. Shelly has served on several child advocacy boards and served as the Vice President of Learning on the board of a national organization.

She served as the Early Childhood Education Director at Temple Emanu-El Dallas between 2007-2023, where she led over 300 children and 100 staff members. Shelly guided the school using the Reggio Emilia philosophy, oversaw the third cycle of accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children, implementation of the International Baccalaureate program, and reinstated a successful kindergarten.

Shelly is proud and excited to lead The Compass School of Texas, its founding class, and an organization that strives to positively impact families for generations to come.