The View Out My Window
Dear Kinkaid Community,
On a wall in my office hangs a shovel from our ALL IN Campaign groundbreaking ceremony engraved with the date, October 18, 2022. As I look from that shovel and then gaze out my window, I see the truly extraordinary transformation that has taken place across our campus since that beautiful October afternoon only two-anda-half years ago. In the relatively short time since then, our community has come together in support of this dynamic expansion, and I’ve had a front row, 50-yard line seat, thanks to the window in my office that overlooks the daily progress being made. Our new best-in-class facilities are simply breathtaking, and I can hardly wait to see our students and our community walking our new halls and exploring our pathways, which will connect our whole campus in ways like never before.
You, our incredibly generous community, have made all of this possible. Our new programming and facilities supporting our three As - Arts, Athletics, and Academics - and our fourth A - Alumni - are a reality thanks to the over $175 million our community has committed to date through the ALL IN Campaign. Thank you for your vital support!
On the construction front, Phase One (the Temporary Upper School, Doggett Family Fieldhouse & Gymnasium, and new physical plant) was completed on time and on budget. Phase Two (the new Upper School and Alumni Center) is on time and under budget and will be completed before the first day of school this coming August. This summer the final phase, Phase Three , will begin (reconfiguring the Temporary Upper School building into an expansion of our Lower School and consolidation of school-wide administration, refurbishing the Melcher Gym, updating the Student Life Building including a new dance studio and renovations to the Recital Hall, updating our Dining & Learning Center, including acoustical upgrades in the dining area and new spaces for middle school learning on the upper level of the building, and upgrading the Lower School and Middle School buildings). This third and final phase of construction will be completed by summer 2026.
On the programming front, we are not waiting for the completion of our facilities. All three of our ALL IN Centers have now been successfully launched: the
Gordy Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance (led by Dr. Ed Harris ); the McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success (led by Dr. Laura Lomax-Bream ); and the Sheedy Family Center for STEM (led by Lara Cross ). These centers have generated a lot of excitement among students, faculty, and parents, and we are grateful that all three have received significant donor support to endow the programs in perpetuity and ensure they will always be part of our curriculum. We look forward to updating you on these important initiatives in the fall.
Together, we are writing an exceptional chapter in the life of our beloved Kinkaid, and we are not finished yet. To those of you who have supported these efforts through the ALL IN Campaign, thank you for your generous and meaningful support. To those who have not yet gone ALL IN with us, your support is still needed and welcomed; we invite you to help support the successful completion of all initiatives and join the many other donors who have declared their support for Kinkaid, our students, and our faculty. We look forward to communicating soon with you about opportunities to visit campus to see first-hand our new buildings. You won’t believe your eyes!
In partnership,
Jonathan Eades Head of School
Dear Kinkaid Community,
As Co-Chair of the ALL IN Campaign, I extend my deepest gratitude for your extraordinary support over the past three-and-a-half years. To date, donors have generously committed over $175 million in support, which is nothing short of inspiring — not to mention record-breaking.
The generosity of our trustees, alumni, parents and grandparents of current and former students, faculty and staff, and other friends is already transforming our ambitious vision into reality. If you have visited campus recently, you have witnessed this transformation firsthand. As Jonathan shares in his message, our new modernized facilities and innovative programs are taking shape; where blueprints once existed, beautiful structures are now in place for our future learning spaces. The new Upper School building, along with all of the other new stateof-the-art facilities, will elevate academic experiences, foster creativity, and further strengthen the bonds of our community for generations to come.
To those of you who have already supported these improvements, thank you. Please accept my sincere thanks for joining me, the Board of Trustees, and hundreds of other Kinkaid community members in giving to the School. We would not be here without your generosity. And, while we celebrate our accomplishments and the philanthropic commitment of our community, our work is not yet complete. Our campaign remains in full swing, and my fellow campaign volunteers and I continue actively reaching out to families, alumni, and friends to participate in this historic endeavor. When you receive an invitation to meet with Jonathan, a member of the Advancement team, or a volunteer, please say “Yes.” We need you!
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leave a lasting, impactful legacy and ensure Kinkaid’s continued leadership in PK-12 independent education. I know you will want to be part of it.
With deep appreciation,
Charles Lawrence ’96 Campaign Co-Chair Trustee
Construction of the Upper School building is almost complete. This second phase of construction has remained on schedule and under budget. The building will be ready for the first day of school in August.
We look forward to hosting various celebratory events and tours throughout the 2025-2026 school year. Stay tuned for more details over the coming months.
Scan the QR code to watch a drone fly-through video of the building.
October 2021 - September 2022
FUNDRAISING
•Board of Trustees adopts campaign priorities and a campaign working goal of $125 million
•Campaign leadership gifts phase commences
October 2022 - August 2023
FUNDRAISING
•More than $120 million given and pledged by Kinkaid donors
•Board of Trustees adopts increased campaign working goal of $180 million
FACILITIES: FIRST PHASE
•Demolition of Harrison House - completed fall 2022
•Construction of new building along San Felipe (Temporary Upper School)completed August 2023
•Construction of Doggett Family Fieldhouse & Gymnasium initiatedcompleted January 2024
•Construction of Physical Plant initiated - completed January 2024 PROGRAMS
•Gordy Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance (CLEF)launched August 2023
September 2023 - May 2025
FUNDRAISING
•More than $175 million given and pledged by Kinkaid donors
FACILITIES: SECOND PHASE
•Demolition of old Upper School building - completed fall 2023
•Construction of new Upper School building initiated - to be completed summer 2025 PROGRAMS
•McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success - launched August 2024
June 2025 - August 2026
FUNDRAISING
•Ongoing
FACILITIES: THIRD AND FINAL PHASE
•Repurposing of building along San Felipe (Temporary Upper School converted to expanded Lower School, Admissions suite, and consolidated administration)
•Refurbishing of Melcher Gym
•Repurposing of Student Life Building (more arts spaces, including a second Dance Studio and Music Hall)
•Soundproofing of Dining Center
•Upgrading Lower School, Middle School, and Learning Center PROGRAMS
•Sheedy Family Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) - launching August 2025
On April 29, Margaret Kinkaid’s birthday, a dedication ceremony was held to celebrate the newly named Sarofim Dining & Learning Center. Mona and Andrew Sarofim ’03 and Sarofim Foundation Executive Director Ryan Dolibois shared their excitement about their historic and transformational $15 million gift to the School as part of the ALL IN Campaign. Kinkaid Trustees and Campaign Cabinet members were also in attendance, and remarks of gratitude were given by Head of School Jonathan Eades and Campaign Co-Chair Evan Katz
Upper School Science Teacher Lara Cross has been named our inaugural Director of the Sheedy Family Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) after a competitive national search. Lara joined Kinkaid as an Upper School Science Teacher in 2005 and is known as a leader for innovation in and out of the classroom. She will officially assume her new role at Kinkaid in July 2025.
Lara shared the following about her excitement and hope for the new center: “With STEM at the forefront of innovation and discovery in our evolving world, I am honored to be selected as the Director of the Sheedy Family Center for STEM. The future holds incredible possibilities for our students and our school, and I am proud to lead our community in fostering curiosity and inspiring new advancements through STEM education.”
Lara is known for her collaborations in and outside the Science Department, her love of astronomy, and her passion for teaching. She has been the organizer for the recent eclipse events on campus, and she is a leader at Kinkaid in adopting AI pedagogical strategies. She freely shares her findings with Kinkaid teachers.
The purpose of the Sheedy Family Center for STEM, which will align and enhance STEM curriculum and programming from Pre-K through 12th grade, is:
To cultivate a new generation of leaders who approach problems analytically within a mindset of sustainability, ethics, innovation, creativity, and datainformed decision-making to contribute meaningfully to the global community. The Center empowers students to think critically, problem solve, collaborate, and explore by providing a comprehensive and immersive STEM experience.
After the announced upcoming retirement of Tom Moore and a national search, Kinkaid has found our next Director of Advancement right here in Houston. Bridget Hennessey has dedicated a highly impactful 27 years to independent school advancement in Houston — 13 years at St. Francis Episcopal School as Head of Advancement, and the past 14 years as Director of Advancement at her alma mater, St. Agnes Academy. As a fifth generation Houstonian, she has notable connections and ties in our community. Head of School Jonathan Eades shared, “Bridget is a proven fundraiser and community builder. I believe she will be a great fit for Kinkaid and will carry on our legacy of philanthropic excellence.”
Bridget begins her important work at Kinkaid on June 12. And, we are so fortunate that Tom will continue to work with our Advancement Department in a part-time capacity through early 2026, ensuring a smooth, strong transition. Tom
is very pleased that Bridget will be the next Advancement leader. He remarked, “I have known Bridget for over two decades and have great respect for her personally and for her many accomplishments. As I ease into retirement after 24 years at Kinkaid, I am excited to assist Jonathan and Bridget in helping the School complete the ALL IN Campaign. Working with school leaders, volunteers, and my staff at Kinkaid has been the highlight of my professional career!”
Bridget shared her excitement about joining the Falcon family, “I am deeply honored to step into the role of Director of Advancement at The Kinkaid School. This incredible community, with a rich tradition of excellence, has long inspired me, and I am thrilled to contribute to its bright future. I look forward to working alongside dedicated educators, alumni, the Advancement team, and families to support and elevate Kinkaid’s mission. Go Falcons!”
