Danielle MacDonald
Danielle MacDonald, counselorRose Hill Middle School
Joe Gorder, principal
Joe Gorder, principal
Rose Hill Middle School’s Outstanding Educator is awarded to counselor Danielle MacDonald for 2021. Principal Joe Gorder says that Danielle “personifies “Outstanding Service Above Self” … She arranged for food deliveries last spring that continued weekly through summer for more than forty Rose Hill families suffering from food insecurity during the pandemic. She has built connections through community partners such as Farmer Frog to continue providing food resources to families in need. She founded a food pantry at RHMS that has served approximately 100 families over the course of the school year and coordinated donations from staff, the PTSA, and the community.”
Danielle also organized remote “lunch bunch” meetings with 6th graders, helping them build friendships and stay connected. Through frequent home visits, the Natural Leaders program, and countless phone calls she builds relationships with families, helping to identify systemic barriers, and listening to and honoring the ideas and leadership of families. She employs a strengths-focused mindset for every student and family she interacts with, communicating the strengths and contributions of each student. She leads the staff in equity-focused professional learning, is a group leader for restorative circles, sets up individual interviews with all AVID nominees, and designs Advisory lessons for students on race, bias, allyship, and diversity. Danielle MacDonald is a remarkable educator who represents the characteristics from the “Object of Rotary” to the nth degree.