Dallas Schools Find Commonality in Differences

Eagles and Dragons Club unites neurodiverse and neurotypical students

Imagine walking into a room where differences don’t create division but instead build unity.

For the Eagles and Dragons Club, an after-school organization fostering friendships between neurodiverse and neurotypical students on campus a short distance from each other on Midway Road, it’s a reality.

The club connects high schoolers from The Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD), a college prep school, and Oak Hill Academy (OHA), a K-12 school for students with learning differences.

Founded by ESD freshman Luke Crowhurst and co-led by ninth grade class president Zach Fish the club aims to provide a welcoming space for socializing, teamwork, and mutual support.

Luke’s sister, Lana, who was diagnosed with autism, has attended OHA for six years. Alongside her, Luke began attending Oak Hill’s summer programs and building friendships with the students and teachers there.

“I thought it would be a really good idea to start a club where ESD kids can gain perspective on the different lifestyle of [neurodivergent students] and also provide Oak Hill students with the opportunity to build stronger social interaction skills,” Luke said.

Club members participate in sports, ice cream socials, movie nights, scavenger hunts, and gift exchanges. ESD students also open doors in the carpool line on Friday mornings at OHA, welcoming students with friendly smiles.

“The kids at Oakhill are our friends,” Zach said.

ESD Latin teacher Anne Fahrenholz serves as and club moderator.

“It’s wonderful to see students that would not typically be considered in the same social circles get together and be so happy,” Fahrenholz said.

ESD student Kate Lewis has been participating since the club’s early beginnings in September of 2024. Kate’s brother has a condition known as Hemifacial Microsomia and attended Oak Hill through his graduation in May 2024.

“The way you treat other people matters, and the way you talk to other people matters,” Kate said.

Brit Smart, executive director at Oak Hill Academy, sees the club as a breath of fresh air in a society that’s so quick to impose boundaries.

“These (ESD) kids are graduating soon, and they’re going to enter a society… filled with neurodivergent people,” Smart said. “This [club] is making an impact on helping inform society of the types of people that exist, and the challenges people face.”

Gil Drori-Lipin, a ninth-grade student at Oak Hill, finds joy in the social aspect of the club. 

“I met some friends and did some fun activities together and ate pizza with them,” Gil said. “We talked about our likes and stuff. It was really cool.”

Ellie Tsao, an Oak Hill senior, was eager to join the blossoming community. 

“When I first heard about the club, I was super excited because I wanted to meet new friends and I got to meet a lot of new kids that go to ESD [that I] can hang out with,” Ellie said.

Oak Hill junior Sawyer Hearn also was among the first to join.

“Getting to socialize with other people from other schools broadens the perspective of our community,” Sawyer said. “[The club] also gets us to communicate our feelings and interests with each other.”