50 Stories for 50 Years: Timothy McIntire, Former ASSIST Board of Directors

Nov 30 2023

To celebrate our 50th anniversary year during 2018/19, we collected stories and profiles of people and institutions that have helped us build our organization, which first began as one person’s dream in 1968. We will feature one story per week on our blog. Please enjoy these “50 for 50” profiles featuring ASSIST’s dedicated board members, dynamic staff, welcoming host families and enthusiastic ASSIST Scholars.



have many abiding memories tied to ASSIST. Among them: Meeting Betsy and Ken Lindfors for the first time, in company with Jack Tyrer, in the early 90’s. Then, years later, serving on the search committee that brought Bob and Anne Stanley to lead, serve, and love ASSIST. Jack, who had been my headmaster for a decade as I grew as teacher, coach, and then director at The Asheville School, was central to both events as chairman of ASSIST’s board.

In our world of independent schools, ample intelligence, drive for success, and healthy children and adults abound. When I met the Lindfors for the first time, their character demonstrated the essential quality that enables authentic leadership to build and sustain an initiative as noble as ASSIST. I remember thinking, “Who are these people, and how can I be just like them?” No wonder that all of us tapped by the ASSIST movement were trusted and respected.

When it was time to pass the torch of ASSIST’s leadership on, I wondered how we would ever find someone able to succeed Ken and Betsy in substance and style. We articulated what we thought we needed, employed a search consultant agency, interviewed many impressive candidates, and narrowed our field.

Fortunately, we kept our eye on the heart of ASSIST. We presented to the board a young educator with half the experience of every other candidate. It was an inspired choice, made possible by the confidence that Chair Jack Tyrer instilled in us. Ben and Nancy accepted our invitation to lead ASSIST, and that ineffable but essential quality of character continued to blossom through the Stanleys.

The ASSIST experience is always marked by invitation and acceptance—for Scholars, member schools, and board members alike. I watched the Scholars at my schools courageously navigate their experiences in a different country, with new parents, families, and classmates. And the beauty of their striving and sometimes failing proved a powerful engine of learning for us all. What a privilege it has been to have known the inspirational women and men who have made these experiences possible for the benefit of our ASSIST Scholars in the past, present, and future.

About Tim:
Having served as Assistant Headmaster at The Asheville School, Principal of the Upper School at The Kinkaid School, Headmaster at Albuquerque Academy, Executive Director of the Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools, Head of School at Francis Parker School (San Diego), and Senior Search Associate at Carney Sandoe, Tim McIntire best identifies himself as teacher and school man. In addition to his ten years on the ASSIST board, he served a dozen years on the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education board and six years on the University of San Diego Education School board. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English, and his Ed.S from the University of Virginia. Tim has been married to The Reverend Rhonda Smith McIntire since 1978 – the same year they joined the boarding faculty at The Asheville School – and today, both Tim and Rhonda have retired in order to travel in good health. An avid fly-fisherman, Tim spends as many days as possible on trout streams across the country.