Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Townend Doherty.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Education has always been at the heart of my life. Growing up in Highland Park with a mother who was a teacher, I witnessed the profound and lasting influence an educator can have on a child. In college, I spent a summer studying economics and international relations at Georgetown University and interned with highly intelligent, inspiring professionals who pushed me to grow and think bigger. After graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C., where I worked for an educational nonprofit that inspired young students to draw on lessons from history to develop their own skills to become better civic leaders.That experience cemented my conviction that schools are more than places of learning—they represent the roots that shape students, families, and entire communities. Equip a child with a strong academic foundation and he or she will rise to solve problems and have fun at the same time.
Then I spent over 15 years working in The Admission Office at The Hockaday School, where I had the privilege of walking alongside thousands of families during one of the most important decisions they would ever make for their children. As a mother of three I was able to balance my professional work with my family life and cherished my time there. My mom also taught at Hockaday, so it felt like home for a long time! I am honored I had the privilege to work with so many amazing educators and students.
However, applying to a private school in Dallas had become something families agonized over and it was hard to watch parents go through the process because the demand was so high at all of the schools.
When I met the three founders of The Compass School of Texas, their story and vision to build a new Pre-K through 8th grade co-ed independent school in Dallas immediately inspired me. I saw in them a boldness to create another premier institution that blended academic rigor with hands-on, inquiry-based learning, leadership development, and a true sense of community. They would say, “Compass is for the child that asks why?” That resonated deeply with me.
As an Admission Director, I saw firsthand the urgency for more private school options in Dallas. Too many times, I sat with parents whose children were waitlisted at multiple schools—heartbreaking conversations that revealed just how stressful the process can be. I knew I wanted to be part of the solution.
When the opportunity arose to help build a new Pre-K through 8th grade school, I felt it was more than a career move—it was a calling. Compass is deeply needed in our rapidly growing city.
Today, as Director of Advancement, I lead the True North Capital Campaign and share the Compass story with families and community leaders. We started with 43 students and in year three of operation, we have 105 students enrolled. This work has been a journey of growth, collaboration, and inspiration—and I am honored to play a role in building a school that will not only meet the demand, but it will transform the lives of children and families for generations to come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. This was a long time ago, but it’s a core memory that really made me stronger. I was with my dad and brothers when we were held up at gunpoint in University Park, one block from my house. They stole my dad’s wallet. That was when I was a fourth grader and it was terrifying.
I moved overseas to Spain in college and then spent a year in Milan doing my Masters degree and I learned to speak Spanish and Italian, and the “lost in translation” moments of traveling were obstacles at the time, but later turned into great stories!
Like so many families in 2020, we were juggling uncertainty on every front—work, family, school, and the world around us. The pandemic put schools through challenges no one could have anticipated. Parents, teachers, and students were all doing their best to adjust, and it gave me such a deep appreciation for how communities can rally together when children are at the center. I always encourage parents to view the school as a partner and ask, “how can I help?”
More recently, I lost my brother, and that grief has been one of the hardest things my family has ever faced. It changes you. It forces you to slow down, take stock of what really matters, and hold your people close.
Those seasons of struggle have shaped me into someone who values connection more than ever. It’s why I feel so committed to my work in education: because at its core, it’s about people, relationships, and creating spaces where children and families feel supported, no matter what life brings.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today, I serve as Director of Advancement at The Compass School of Texas. My role is about more than fundraising—it’s about telling our story, building authentic relationships, and ensuring we have the resources to bring our mission to life. I focus on inspiring families and community leaders to join us in building something meaningful in one of the fastest growing cities in America.
I work with some of the most hard-working people I’ve ever met: the Compass founders are three local mothers, Francis Harrison, Caroline Harrison Loehr, and Frances Mitchell along with head of school and education expert Shelly Sender.
Arnie Holtberg, the longest standing headmaster at St Marks school OF TEXAS chairs the Compass advisory council with Mary Ann and Stan Green (founders of the da Vinci School ) Barb and Michael York(with careers at St Marks, ESD, and Greenhill ), Dr. Whitney Strauss, Larry Lacerte, and George Tobolowsky. It is an honor to work with such profound people.
We are committed to making an impact beyond our campus and offer educational programming about our core values of Community, Family. Leadership, Purpose and Resilience. Please visit our Vimeo channel to see the most recent Fireside Chats with remarks by Rob Kaplan, Arnie Holtberg, Harlan Crow, Ross Perot Jr., Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, Peter Brundage, Jim Keyes, Dr. Lori Cook, Dr, Linda Silver, and Compass’ Head of School Shelly Sender. They will inspire you to invest in the future generation of leaders. We have hosted them in private homes, at Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Frontiers of Flight Museum, Hall Arts Hotel, and most recently at Old Parkland.
Before Compass, I spent over 15 years in The Admission Office at The Hockaday School, which gave me deep experience in recruitment, marketing, and event management, both locally and internationally. That foundation allows me to think big picture while executing the details that make an impact. Being fluent in Spanish also helps me connect with more families and broaden our reach, something I truly value.
What sets me apart is my ability to merge strategy with heart. Building a new school in Dallas isn’t just about the building or the campaign —it’s about the impact. Compass will educate 340 students annually when the new campus is complete. With a robust tuition assistance program and merit-based scholarships, more families will have access to an education that gives students the life skills needed to be successful, confident, and committed to serving their community. This work is about trust, connection, and inspiring people to see themselves as part of a brighter future. What I’m most proud of is how the Compass network of supporters has rallied around this vision. Together, we’ve not only raised significant funds but we have built a powerful collective of purposeful leaders that will shape Dallas, Texas, the US, and the world for generations to come. We are eager to build this school!
Beyond my professional work, I’ve remained deeply committed to philanthropy and community service. I am co-chairing AWARE Affair next April to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and I serve as a board member of The Center for BrainHealth and recently chaired Forefront Living’s Each Moment Matters Luncheon. Over the years, I’ve also taken on leadership and committee roles with organizations such as the Grant Halliburton Foundation, The Hockaday School, The Concilio, Austin Street Center, the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the Dallas Symphony.
Whether chairing a gala, serving on a committee or writing a thank you note, my goal has always been the same—bring people together to support causes that strengthen families, education, and community well-being. I lead, by bringing people together around a shared vision.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Please take a tour of the Compass school of Texas. Our campus is located in the heart of Dallas on Northwest Highway between Inwood Rd. and Devonshire. We have more than doubled enrollment and have outgrown the space. We need everyone’s help in the community to build a new campus as fast as we can. We have naming opportunities if your family values education and wants to leave a legacy.
Buy a table for the Compass Fiesta Auction and Concert at JSX on March 7, 2026!
The Fireside Chats are for everyone in the community and our next one is October 29 at Center for BrainHealth. We will be discussing the topic of resilience with a former Navy seal, Kevin Gatley, who is in charge of the war fighter initiative at Center for BrainHealth. He will talk with a gut health doctor Professor Carina Venter who is flying in from Colorado and one of Compass‘s founders Frances Mitchell.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.compassschooltx.org
- Instagram: Compassschooltx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CR5iCZ8kR/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-compass-school-of-texas/
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/compassschooloftexas
- Other: https://muradbid.com/app/public/bidapp/compassschooltx/tickets/tix
Image Credits
George Fiala (the ones from Old parkland with my mom and I and then the one with Rob, Peter, Founders, Arnie and Shelly Sender)
