Dr. Donald R. Collins

Dr. Donald R. Collins
Klein ISD Superintendent 
1971-2000



Mrs. Georgan Reitmeier, Board President 

“The Klein ISD Board of Trustees expresses our deepest condolences on the passing of Dr. Collins. He was an outstanding man and leader of our Klein community for many years and will be remembered fondly by all of us. When he arrived in Klein, there were 2700 students in 6 schools. When he retired 29 years later, there were 31,800 students in 28 schools. His focus on people and commitment to excellence helped make Klein ISD what it is today.”

Dr. Jim Cain, former Klein ISD Superintendent

“I first met Don in 1978 when he interviewed me for an assistant principal’s position. I will never forget how impressed I was with him, and I remember telling my wife Susan that evening that I had just met someone with the class, poise, intelligence, and polish that I had always associated with the Ambassador to the Court of Saint James. We crossed our fingers that I would be offered the job, and to our good fortune, I was. I was so fortunate to spend most of my career with such a remarkable man.”

Dr. Bret Champion, former Klein ISD Superintendent

“Dr. Collins's distinguished leadership is one of the reasons that Klein is the exceptional district it is today. He led the district through a period of tremendous growth while keeping those things that makes Klein such a special community and school district.”

Mr. Randy Kirk, Klein Collins Principal

“It is truly humbling to work in a building every day that is named after such a wonderful man. Dr. Collins cared deeply for people. He and Sylvia would often call or stop by, and I always left those visits amazed by the knowledge and wisdom he had. Our Klein Collins family will continue to work hard to honor his legacy."



collins

A prominent educator in the State of Texas, Dr. Collins served as superintendent of the Klein Independent School District for 29 years. After serving as a teacher, principal, supervisor, and assistant superintendent in the Houston Independent School District, Dr. Collins became superintendent of Klein Independent School District in March of 1971. He retired from the district in 2000.

His early years were spent in Virginia and North Carolina. The Collins family then moved to Houston in 1950, and Don graduated from Austin High School in 1953. To say that those three years at Austin High School were productive is an understatement. During that time, Don became an Eagle Scout, won the AAU Southwestern United States Swimming Championship in the butterfly event, was voted President of the Senior Class, and began a 12-year career in radio and television broadcasting at the age of 16. He was on stations KLBS, KLVL, KTRH, KTRK-TV, and KXYZ.

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston in 1957, he began teaching in the Houston ISD at Dechaumes Elementary, and five years later became the principal at Lubbock Elementary. Both his masters and doctorate degrees in school administration are from the University of Houston, and that is where he also met his wife, Sylvia. It was also during this period of time that he served for six years in the US Air Force Reserve.

Don later worked in HISD as the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools and the Associate Superintendent for Special Education and Psychological Services before coming to Klein in 1971.

When he arrived in Klein, there were 2700 students in 6 schools. When he retired 29 years later, there were 31,800 students in 28 schools. Growth of that order presents many opportunities and challenges, and his leadership was the key factor in shaping and guiding the district to the standard of excellence that it enjoys today.

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