North, Don (Donald C.)

Person

Staff Only

Biographical Statement

Don North served as fourth Headmaster of The Kinkaid School from 1996 to 2013.

Born March 27, 1947 in Hartford, CT, North received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Vanderbilt University (1969) and a Master of Arts from Middlebury University (1979). North began his career in education in 1969 at the St. Mark's School of Dallas, serving as a teacher and coach. He quickly assumed his first leadership position at the same institution, serving as chairman of the English Department from 1972 to 1977, and following this with a position as Middle School Principal at the Forth Worth Country Day School.

North's career at Kinkaid began in 1983 when he came to the school as Upper School Principal. Earning a strong reputation at Kinkaid and within the Independent School world, North was subsequently invited to serve as Headmaster of Durham Academy before returning to Kinkaid as the school's fourth headmaster. Throughout the decade that followed, North led several projects that gained national attention, including two major fundraising campaigns; the first "Building for a New Century" which led to construction of three new buildings on campus including the new theater; and the second "Tomorrow's Promise" which ensured the purchase of extensive acreage bordering the Memorial Campus.

Much internal strategic planning occurred during North's tenure, including a Character Education evaluation and implementation, and a "Moving Forward" campaign intended to identify and codify the secular values of the school community; as well as major technology related planning to implement 21st century web-based technologies both in and out of the classroom.

North advocated for strong professional development amongst the faculty, and continued to teach an English course at the school until the 2004-2005 school year. During his speeches, he spoke often about his family, including his wife Mary North and his three daughters. Upon his retirement, North and his wife Mary continue to make their home in Houston.