Mu Pi Humble Delta Kappa Gamma

08/25/2026

Thank you, Dolly, for supporting literacy and love of learning. You made our world a better place and we will miss your light.

DKG mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, a beloved Honorary Member and lifelong champion for literacy. Through her Imagination Library, Dolly helped put books into the hands of millions of children and inspired a love of reading around the world. Her extraordinary legacy will live on for generations. 💜📚

08/25/2026

“Women teachers heed the calling” to support the Humble ISD Education Foundation in their effort to raise funds for creative education grants for teachers in our school district. Mu Pi Chapter of DKG was at Friday night’s PURSE BINGO enjoying the energy in the room of a community which supports schools in an engaging and fun way!

08/25/2026

DKG was in the house last Friday night supporting the Humble ISD Education Foundation! The 2026 sold-out Purse Bingo brought together a group of 800 women for an evening filled with laughter, excitement, and plenty of B-I-N-G-O, all in support of Humble ISD educators. Mu Pi chapter was enthusiastically represented! DKG did not take home any of the 20 designer purses as prizes, but shared a solid evening of sisterhood at their table patriotically decorated to celebrate America’s 250th birthday! ♥️🤍💙

08/17/2026

Karen McConnell and Tina Smith will share the duties of recording Mu Pi’s chapter minutes during the 2026-2028 biennium.

08/16/2026

Norma Kinchen will serve Mu Pi chapter as First Vice President in charge of programming for the 2026-2028 biennium. Norma grew up in Azle, Texas, a city northwest of Fort Worth. She graduated with both her bachelors and masters in elementary education from University of North Texas in Denton. She then earned a masters in school administration from East Texas State University in Commerce where she was awarded a fellowship in the Meadows Principal Improvement Program. Norma taught third grade children in Royse City ISD. She married John Kinchen and spent three years as an army wife, mostly in Nuremberg Germany. She and John had two children, son Travis and daughter Jennifer. Norma taught children in first, second and fifth grades in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, where she then served as an elementary assistant principal and principal. Norma retired from education in 1998 after serving as an elementary principal and middle school principal in Johnson City ISD.
Norma says, “I retired early to take care of my husband who had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and told he would likely live for five more years. The doctors were wrong. I had him 20 more years although his health was not good. We went through heart attacks, kidney failure and cancer. I learned to run his hemodialysis at home. We loaded his machine into our RV and traveled all over the US. I was then able to give him a kidney, and we continued to travel and enjoy our 5 grandchildren.” John and Norma moved to Kingwood in 2016 to be near their daughter, knowing that John’s death was imminent. “It was a good move,” says Norma, “The RVing is over, but I am very active in my church, First Presbyterian, two quilt ministries, DKG, HARTA and book club. I’m so thankful God brought me here!” Mu Pi chapter is thankful too that Norma’s journey has brought her where she has become a part of our happy throng!

08/16/2026

Tina Smith and Karen McConnell will share the duties of recording Mu Pi’s chapter minutes during the 2026-2028 biennium. Tina Smith grew up in the Bronx, New York. At age 13 she and her family moved to Hartsdale in Westchester, New York. She graduated from Maria Regina High School, and Mercy College. For her Master’s Degree in Education Tina attended Hunter College in NYC. She taught fourth grade at Westchester County’s Croton-on-Hudson for eleven years. After she married her husband, John Smith, she moved to Kingwood, Texas, had two daughters and then went back to teaching fourth grade. Tina taught nine and ten year olds at Humble ISD’s Elm Grove Elementary for 26 years. She says, “I loved teaching!” Tina’s hobbies including reading, crocheting, and socializing! She loves being with people and meeting new people. Mu Pi is so pleased Tina Smith is a part of our happy band of educators.

08/16/2026

Debbie McIntyre will serve as the Mu Pi Corresponding Secretary during the 2026-2028 biennium. Debbie says, “I grew up in Abilene, Texas and attended high school in Northern Kentucky. I attended Oral Roberts University earning an associate degree in Business. I received degrees in Marketing and Business Communications from Northern Kentucky University. After moving to Kingwood, I became active in Humble ISD with my children. I received much encouragement from district principals to get my teaching certificate which I did from University of Houston. Later, I received my Master of Education and Principal certification from Sam Houston University.
I taught high school English at Quest HS and later in the PACE program. As part of the original staff at Quest we traveled to Brown University and Harvard for specialized training. I retired at the beginning of Covid. I am now in negotiations to publish my next three books. I have also received offers to produce my first book.
I currently teach two small group Bible Studies. I am a voracious researcher and reader. My biggest passion is spending time with my grandchildren. I have been a member of Mu Pi since 2005 and served on numerous committees and as President. I love my Mu Pi sisters and have treasured my time in this special group.” Mu Pi is richly blessed having this calm and elegant author in our midst.

08/16/2026

Carolyn Mashburn joins Jeanne Barton, cochairing Mu Pi’s position of Second Vice President in charge of Membership during the upcoming biennium. Carolyn says, “Although I was born in Texas (Ft. Bliss),I grew up in Arkansas, and met Layne at Hendrix College. We graduated and married in 1966. As an English & Drama major, I began my teaching career in Springdale, AR while Layne was completing his MBA at U of A, but I also taught in Hot Springs AR & St Louis, MO while he was in the Army. We have two sons. Brad was born in Seoul, S. Korea at an Army hospital and Andrew was born in Corpus Christ. I taught at Cy-Fair and Flour Bluff before Andrew’s birth. After he was born, I taught microwave cooking in Corpus and had a cooking segment on their morning TV show. We moved to Kingwood in 1982. I taught English and Special Ed at KHS from 1983-1997 then moved to 611 Higgins (before it was cute) to serve as Coordinator of GT, Journalism and secondary RELA. In the 1990’s I completed my Masters at the St. Thomas University . I LOVE travel (45 Road Scholar trips) reading, knitting, and walking. Walking outside while enjoying the herons, egrets, cormorants, turtles, ducks, geese and an occasional eagle is my idea of Kingwood perfection! How many people get to do this within 10 minutes of their kitchen door? The real me is an outdoor walker, for sure, so I will be walking Panama in September and English & Wales in October this year.” Catch Carolyn if you can! She always has something going on her schedule. Thank goodness Mu Pi is one of them!

08/14/2026

Jeanne Barton and Carolyn Mashburn will be sharing the job of Mu Pi Second Vice President in charge of membership this biennium. Jeanne Barton grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended college at The University of Tulsa graduating with an English major and a Speech minor. Jeanne taught secondary students in Liberal, Kansas; Crowley, Texas; and New Caney, Texas for a grand total of 30 years! She has two accomplished daughters and four wonderful grandchildren. Dr. Barbara Drumheller is Chief of Harris County Mental Health. Daughter Elizabeth Ballard is a DNA Specialist for Richmond forensics laboratory in Virginia. Jeanne’s favorite hobbies include reading and playing bridge. She has a very distinctive, mischievous laugh. Jeanne says, “My laugh is very noticeable, but one can’t change one’s laugh!!! I love to laugh!!!” She will be helping her Mu Pi sisters find joy and laughter as she cares for DKG membership for the next two years.

08/12/2026

Melissa Perry will continue to serve Mu Pi as treasurer during the 2026-2028 biennium. Melissa grew up in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, home of that famous groundhog which annually predicts the weather on February 2. She attended Macon Junior College then Mercer University in Macon, Georgia where she majored in Mathematics and minored in Education.
Melissa is a retired secondary math teacher having taught at Humble 9, Crosby High School for 22 years, Sconzo ECHS, and LoneStar Community College. She is married to a pilot and has one daughter “who is my whole heart.” They recently returned from a vacation in Ireland and Scotland. Her girl moves into a dorm at the University of St. Thomas this week where she begins her college career. Melissa is community minded and civically active, focused on education advocacy. Shopping is her favorite hobby and purple is her favorite color. Mu Pi finances are in good hands with Melissa Perry!