Legacy in the Halls: Rockwall ISD names fourth middle school after beloved educator Ursula Rakow

ROCKWALL, TX (March 28, 2025)When the doors of Rockwall ISD’s newest middle school open in August 2025, it will do more than welcome students. It will carry forward the legacy of a beloved educator who shaped the district for over four decades. The Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees has officially named the district’s fourth middle school Ursula Rakow Middle School. The new campus, part of the 2021 bond program, is scheduled to open its doors to students in grades 6 through 8 in August 2025.

The Board’s resolution recognized Rakow’s extraordinary 50+ year career in education, including 42 years of unwavering service within Rockwall ISD. Rakow’s journey in education began in Indiana, where she taught for five years before expanding her reach as an online ESL teacher.

In 1973, she and her family made Rockwall their home, and just two years later, she joined Rockwall ISD. What followed was a career marked by passion, leadership, and innovation.

For nearly three decades, Rakow served as a science educator and department chair, leaving her mark on every middle school in the district—Utley, Cain, and Williams. She was renowned not only for her engaging and often humorous teaching style but also for the deep connections
she forged with her students. Her classes ignited curiosity, fostered confidence, and, for many, sparked a lifelong love of science.

Beyond the classroom, Rakow played a key role in shaping the district’s instructional landscape. She contributed to curriculum development, mentored countless new teachers, and served on strategic planning and hiring committees. Her leadership helped guide Rockwall ISD through
growth and change, always with students’ best interests at heart.

Her impact was recognized time and again, earning her multiple Campus Teacher of the Year awards, District Secondary Teacher of the Year honors, and the coveted title of Most Inspirational Teacher—a testament to the lives she touched throughout her career.

The naming of Ursula Rakow Middle School reflects Rockwall ISD’s commitment to honoring the individuals who have shaped its history. Her name will now be part of the district’s future, just as she was a vital part of its past.

Submitted press release, Rockwall ISD. 

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