NORTH HOPKINS

Dr. Darin Jolly began as Superintendent in North Hopkins ISD in 2016 and is currently in his 26^th year as a professional educator.

Darin Jolly began his educator career in 1995 as an assistant band director in Palestine, Texas at his Alma Mater Westwood ISD. He then proceeded to serve as director of bands in Elkhart ISD (1996-2000), Coleman ISD (2000-2001), and Mabank ISD (2001-2005). As a band director, Jolly was an active UIL Texas adjudicator and clinician, providing workshops and leadership camps for bands nationwide. Following ten years of teaching, Jolly continued in Mabank ISD to begin his administrative career as Assistant Principal (2005-2007) and Junior High Principal (2007-2013). While at Mabank, the district academically improved from “Acceptable” to “Recognized” and then to “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency in 2010. Jolly has also served as High School Principal in Winona ISD (2013-2015), and Superintendent in Kenedy ISD (2015-2016).

In addition to school leadership and music education experiences, Dr. Jolly has also been an adjunct professor for Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Phoenix in Dallas, Texas. Jolly has also consulted teachers, administrators, and conferences nationwide in the areas of leadership, accountability, grading practices, and fine arts advocacy.

Dr. Jolly comes from a long heritage of farming, education, business entrepreneurship, and church music ministry in Texas, Lousiana, Mississippi, and Illinois. His father, Melvyn, was a principal in Westwood ISD in Palestine, Texas and his mother, Patricia, retired there after several years as a Kindergarten teacher. 

In 1992, Darin Jolly married his college sweetheart, Cara Burk in Springtown, Texas. They met in Brownwood, Texas in the Band at Howard Payne University in 1991. Mrs. Jolly is now the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for North Hopkins ISD. 

Darin and Cara have two children, Elizabeth and Aaron, both residing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Their dog, Carson (pronounced Car-thon), keeps them entertained and enjoys watching Texas Ranger Baseball and Dallas Cowboys football with his family.

In rare downtime or time away from campus, Darin enjoys traveling, fishing, snow skiing, and visiting MLB baseball parks and U.S. Presidential landmarks nationwide. To date, the Jolly family has visited 47 states, with Alaska, Hawaii, and Minnesota remaining to be toured. Amid many hobbies and unfinished projects, Dr. Jolly loves collecting old trucks and cars, including his 1979 Trans Am and his 1951 Ford truck from his high school days.