Don Carter

dcarter:
Superintendent
 Kern High School District

Don Carter’s 28-year career includes teaching, coaching and administrative experience. He has lived in Bakersfield most of his life. As a youth, he attended local schools before graduating from West High and going on to college. As an adult, he has been active in the community, serving a number of local organizations in a leadership capacity.

Carter began his career with the district in 1976 as a science and mathematics teacher at West High shortly after earning a Bachelor of Art’s degree in mathematics and physical sciences from the University of Laverne. Carter would continue in the classroom until 1989 when he began his administrative career as Dean of Students at East Bakersfield High. Ensuing positions included Assistant Principal Instruction/Technology, Bakersfield High (1990-1994), KHSD Director of Business Administration (1994-1997), and Principal of Bakersfield High (1997-1999). Associate Superintendent for Instruction (1999-2004).

Carter continued his education after embarking on his career, earning a Master’s Degree in Educational Management in 1985 from California State University, Bakersfield and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership through the University of La Verne in 1994.

Carter’s career has also included involvement in athletics at the coaching and officiating levels. He was the Instructional Chairman for the Kern County Officials Association from 1980 to 1983. He was West High’s tennis coach from 1977 to 1987. He was a National Junior Basketball volunteer coach from 1996 to 1999. Carter co-founded the KHSD’s Physics Olympics program and served as program director from 1986 to 1989.

Awards and honors include twice receiving Bakersfield High’s Distinguished Faculty Member Award – 1987 and 1994. He was Bakersfield High’s Science Dept. Chair from 1985 to 1989. He was a presenter at the National Science Teachers’ Association and California Science Teachers’ Association in 1987.

Carter’s other teaching experience includes serving as an instructor for the University of La Verne from 1995 to the present and as an Instructor for Point Loma Nazarene University beginning in 2004. He was also a teacher at Bakersfield Adult School from 1983 to 1989 and a Bakersfield College instructor from 1980-1983.

Carter is also active in the community. Organizational Boards on which he has served include the First Presbyterian Church Foundation, the Kern Science Foundation, and the Bakersfield Southwest Baseball Association. Other organizations and affiliations include the Assoc. of California School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa, the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, Kern High Educational Foundation, American Association of Physics Teachers, California Scholarship Federation (life member), National Honor Society (life member) Youth For Christ, and Boy Scouts of America.

Agency Description
 The Kern High School District is the largest School District in the state of California. KHSD provides instruction to 9th - 12th grades. It covers over 3000 square miles in area and serves over 29,000 students.

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