Frank Guzick Elementary School is a 90,000-square-foot facility designed to accommodate about 800 students. The primary rooms in the school include 33 classrooms, a computer lab, a science lab, a school library, a kitchen, a cafeteria, and a 400-seat auditorium. Located near Everglade Park in east Dallas, the school was opened to students for the 2006-2007 school year.
Biography of Frank Guzick
The school is named for Frank Guzick, a Dallas ISD teacher, administrator, and coach who served as principal of Rylie Junior High School, Crozier Tech, and Skyline High School. Guzick was born in Houston, Texas, in 1915 and remained in Texas all his life, except for three years as a World War II naval officer. At age 7, he moved with his family to Sherman, Texas, and graduated from high school in 1934.
Guzick entered Texas Tech University in Lubbock on a football scholarship, graduating in 1939 with bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. During those five years, he played in Tech's first football bowl game (1937) and captained the 1938 undefeated team that won the Cotton Bowl, all while serving for three years as a member of the Texas National Guard.
After graduation, he taught and coached at Electra High School before joining the U.S. Navy. He served as chief petty officer on the battle cruiser U.S.S. Guam, an experience that led him to Dallas to teach soldiers returning from the war at Crozier Tech. In 1946 he became a teacher and coach at W.H. Adamson High School. He married a year later. In 1956, Guzick became assistant principal at Sunset High School, and in 1963, Dallas ISD selected him as principal of Rylie Junior High. In 1970, he returned to Crozier Tech High and later become principal of Dallas' first magnet school, Skyline High School.
At Skyline, Guzick dealt with serious community issues including student busing and a court-ordered desegregation plan. A former assistant principal under Guzick said, "Frank Guzick was the one main reason Skyline High School was the pride of Dallas ISD and successful in so many ways. He always arrived early and stayed late, making sure that every detail was properly attended to."
Known as Dallas' "Dean of Principals," Guzick did everything with a "passion for perfection." Skyline teachers say he had the temperament and understanding to communicate with everyone. "He was always available to guide his staff through difficult situations, and he was firm, fair and friendly with all of the students. He left an indelible positive imprint on many, many people," said former teacher Dr. David Foerch. In 1985, at age 70, Guzick retired from the Dallas ISD and continued to work as a consultant, judge debate competitions, and volunteer at a local hospital.
Frank Guzick died in 1996 at age 81. He is buried in Sherman, Texas. His headstone reads: "Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Educator and Friend to All."
Biography of Frank Guzick