Anne Puidk Horan, EdD, JD, MS

By Samantha Gluck

Dr. H, as she is fondly referred to by those at Poetry Community Christian School (PCCS), a fully accredited K-12 private school, never expected to leave her Dallas law practice. Nor did she expect to add a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling psychology and doctorate in education to her quiver. She believes this was God’s plan to equip her to found PCCS in 2002 with Mica Pryor and Lauri Celella, and act as president and administrator since then.

Described as a woman wearing many hats, her myriad pursuits easily affirm this. She acts as a municipal judge since 1995, practices law with her husband, instructs as adjunct professor for the college district, serves as a COGNIA accreditor, and reviewer for the “Journal of Research in Christian Education.” After taking yoga in college, she taught and then launched Poetry Yoga, a faith-based donation-only yoga class. As to why healthy eating, Bible study, Sabbath, and fitness are important, she explains “if we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we serve others and do our jobs well?”

As mom of three daughters, when she and husband Sandy sought an affordable faith-based school, they came up short. Best-laid plans were transformed, and PCCS was launched. She reflects, “Who would have guessed 99 students would attend in 2002?” The number quickly rose to 250, launching land purchases and building projects on the current 12.6-acre campus with more than 70 staff. Middle-class families from a 30-mile radius seeking affordable Christian education found it at PCCS. Her innovative parent partner program enabled that affordability. “It’s a multi-denominational culture of collaboration and accountability here,” she explains. PCCS personalizes programming, including STEM, liberal arts, dual college credits, and learning support. “It was clear to me that we must serve diverse needs, keeping families together.”

As a lady committed to life-long learning, she notes, “Reading, researching, problem-solving, mediating, counseling, and connecting with those I serve are my passion.” She regularly researches focusing on stress management as well as teen spiritual formation. Work in progress includes two books (“Engage, Empower and Equip: Christian Education’s Role in Preparing Teens for a Life of Faith in an I, Me, My World,” and “Out of the Blue and into the Black: A Biographical Primer for Small School Success”) and research on stress management for Christian educators.

While those around her see a powerhouse multitasker churning out ideas and work product, her underlying motivator is service. “We enter and leave this world with nothing. This reflection from Timothy and Job resonates with me. The only meaningful impact I can hope to achieve is investing in the lives of others.” Whether serving defendants in court or environmental clients, adults seeking fitness and reduced stress, her family, or a Christian school engaged in continuous improvement, Dr. H is on point.