Biography

Dr. John M. Folks, Superintendent of Northside ISD, heads one of the largest and fastest-growing school districts in Texas. Folks has been an educator for 39 years and is the former top education leader for the state of Oklahoma and the former Superintendent of Spring ISD in Houston.

Dr. Folks has served as Superintendent of Northside since July 2002.

Dr. Folks also has served as Superintendent of the Midwest City-Del City Public Schools in suburban Oklahoma City and as Dean of the School of Education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

As the Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Folks was responsible for the development of policy and implementation of comprehensive plans for education from early childhood through high school. He also served on the Board of Regents for Oklahoma colleges and universities.

A native of Oklahoma who earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees from the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Folks began his teaching career in Port Arthur, Texas.

A vocal advocate for public education, Dr. Folks is President of the Texas Association of School Administrators and serves on the Executive and Legislative committees. He serves on the Legislative Council of the University Interscholastic League, the Steering Committee of the Fast Growth School Coalition, and also on the Board of Directors of the Texas Academic Decathlon. Dr. Folks is the Past President of the Texas School Alliance and Past President of the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools.

Dr. Folks is active in the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and serves on two of its Public Affairs Council committees - State and Federal Legislative Committee and Education Committee. He also is a member of the P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alamo Public Telecommunications Council.