Jonathan Eades, Head of School, Kinkaid School
In an interview with Invest:, Kinkaid School’s Head of School, Jonathan Eades, highlighted the impact of the school’s “All In” campaign, ongoing strategic planning, and efforts to prepare Houston-based students for success in the midst of massive transformation and changing job markets. “We are looking pedagogically at what the future of teaching and learning looks like. We are trying to create a much more experiential, hands-on experience with project-based learning,” Eades said.
What has had the biggest impact on your operations in the past year?
The most exciting, dynamic, and transformational aspect of what has been going on at Kinkaid has been with our physical campus improvements, as well as new programming that we are adding. We want to maintain our excellence and relevance in Houston and for our graduates as they leave Kinkaid. Five years ago, we launched the “All In” campaign. This is a fundraiser for physical buildings, adding new programming, our annual giving via the Kinkaid fund, as well as raising endowment money to keep tuition affordable for the local community. We have a board-approved goal for the “All In” campaign of $200 million. The previous largest campaign was $47 million. We have raised approximately $187 million. Our community is stepping forward boldly, with incredible support. There is a passion for Kinkaid. The engagement of our alumni is special. Our applications and annual fund-giving for the past five years have been setting records.
There is also energy and excitement as we round out the final master plan for the campus. Every department and division at Kinkaid will be gaining new physical space as a result of the All In campaign. We opened our new upper school on the first day of school this year. It has been really exciting. Additionally, two years ago, we opened the Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, & Finance. Based on alumni feedback, many expressed that to improve, we should put a stronger emphasis on financial literacy and business acumen, which spurred the genesis of this program.
We have added classes based on finance and principles of investing. We developed a leadership seminar where we bring in industry leaders throughout the Houston area to connect with the students. We also launched entrepreneurship classes, and we allow the students to maintain the intellectual property rights to whatever they develop.
We are looking pedagogically at what the future of teaching and learning looks like. We are trying to create a much more experiential, hands-on experience with project-based learning. We are leveraging the Kinkaid network to develop a professional internship program. Every January for three weeks, our seniors are deployed throughout the region, working in all different businesses and industries. This helps create opportunity and connection, as well as build a sense of community.
We also recently launched a STEM center. We have new robotic spaces. All of our students at the center have access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and all of the latest and greatest technology.
What role do independent schools play in improving the local community?
We recognize that we are a part of Houston. For the independent school that we are, supply does not meet demand. Kinkaid awards approximately $5 million annually in financial aid. This is need-based, not merit scholarships. This has allowed us to branch out and serve broader Houston. We are still a neighborhood school, but also draw from virtually every zip code in Harris County. We are cognizant of the composition and makeup of the Houston area. We are a part of the city, and we want to reflect that. We are known for producing leaders. We are sending and deploying our graduates to college and beyond, and into every professional walk of life. This is a strategic planning year for us. We have our facilities, which are first in class and will support and serve our students, and by extension, the city.
Now, our focus is on maintaining excellence and relevance in such an exponentially fast-moving world. The partnership with other leaders and bringing those individuals into Kinkaid and getting our students connected to them will be the next frontier of elite independent school education.
In relation to education professionals, what key factors are they looking for when considering a role in today’s environment?
The first thing to get in the door as a potential candidate is having relevant educational experience and professional experience in the content area. You need to have someone who knows their stuff. Our average teacher experience at Kinkaid is 19 years. The relevant experience is important as well as the soft skills, which are the most valuable. Technical expertise can be trained and mentored, but we look for people who have strong emotional intelligence and the ability to connect with and relate to others. The educational field is relational. We work with children and families. We need educators who have great expertise but are passionate and great connectors. Emotional intelligence is the biggest factor for someone working with children.
In what ways is AI influencing programming and curriculum changes?
It is a work in progress for everybody in all institutions. A couple of years ago, we decided to lean into it. Some institutions are resistant to it. Our attitude is that this is like when the internet came out, and like when cellphones proliferated. AI is here to stay. We want to make sure our faculty and staff know and are trained in AI and the implications of AI in teaching and learning, as well as with our students, so they can use the technology ethically to avoid plagiarism or lazy thinking. We want to make sure we maintain the human variable, with critical thinking and integrity, in all the educational work that we do. We created a faculty group on AI. We created an acceptable use menu for faculty and students. We want to make sure they know the rules of engagement.
We see AI as a tool for creativity, and we will continue to lean into AI and will continue to study it and create structures and procedures that will mirror the evolution of this technology.
What trends in K-12 education do you see influencing the delivery of learning and curricula in the near future?
As an independent school, we are accredited by the Independent School Association of the Southwest. They are our accrediting body. As part of the accreditation process, we need to revise our strategic planning every 10 years. This greatly influences us because we are proud of our accreditation. We believe this is the gold standard, and they are leading the way in setting the standard for what an exemplary education looks like. We just kicked off our strategic planning process and will have dedicated research on emerging trends and best practices in Houston. We are excited about learning more about those opportunities in the months ahead.
What are your top priorities for the next year?
We are focusing on continued success, high relevance, and producing graduates who are difference makers out there in the world. We are looking at the methodology and pedagogy of what the future of teaching looks like. The schools that will thrive in the future will have answers to those questions. We are proud and grateful for our traditions, but we also will be bold and brave as we look at opportunities to adapt, evolve, and innovate to ensure our graduates are being launched and well prepared to work in jobs that may not exist currently.
We are fortunate that we are full as far as students are concerned. We have a waitlist for every grade and have been shattering application records for the last six years. However, we need to manage tuition increases, which is something that we are focused on. We want to make sure we stay affordable. We know our value proposition is there, and we want to continue to draw families from all over Harris County. We finalized our master campus plan. We feel we have best-in-class technology and facilities. Additionally, the most important part of my job is hiring, supporting, and mentoring teachers. If we do that right, we will continue to thrive.
