Parkland Superintendent Louise Donohue Announces Retirement

Parkland School District Superintendent Louise E. Donohue, who led the district through school expansions, redistricting and academic achievements, is retiring after seven years in the top spot.

Donohue, 56, will step down July 1, at the end of the 2010-2011 school year, it was announced Tuesday night at the meeting of the Parkland School Board.

Board members –whose voices cracked with emotion as they commented on Donohue's pending departure – lauded the superintendent for her leadership and optimism as they accepted her plans for retirement.  Those in attendance stood in ovation.

Board member Roberta Marcus said the district was smart in hiring Donohue almost 14 years earlier, and even smarter in promoting her to superintendent in 2004.

"Her leadership has been transformational," she said.

Donohue, who has spent 35 years in public education, said that she had done a great deal of soul-searching in deciding to retire. She said the time seemed right to leave the district, given that it is "in great shape."

But the decision is a personal one, she said later. She wants to travel, to spend more time with her three young grandsons who live in Maryland, and to possibly go back to her roots and teach, maybe leadership courses.

Donohue began her career as a Spanish teacher, but by age 29, she had moved from the classroom into administration. She worked in other school districts before joining Parkland in 1997. She was able to provide a smooth transition in leadership for the district when she became superintendent in 2004, moving up from the assistant superintendent's position.

At the time, the district had 10 school buildings and 8,500 students. But this year, the district added the Fred J. Jaindl Elementary School in Breinigsville, putting the building count at eight elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. The student population also grew, to 9,366.

Board President Jayne Bartlett said Donohue has been "the heart and soul" of the district. She said Donohue is leaving at "the top of her game."

Donohue said she is most proud of her work in promoting a positive culture and climate at the district. She pointed to the annual opening day program at the start of the school year, which she opened up to not only teachers and administrators but bus drivers and all support personnel.

Donohue is also credited with:

-- Overseeing not only the new construction of the Jaindl Elementary School but the renovation and addition at Springhouse Middle School.

--  Organizing redistricting when Parkland High School was built and two middle schools opened in 1999.

--  Eliminating the reporting of class rank on student transcripts.

-- Winning awards for energy conservation efforts in district buildings.

Although the district is fiscally sound, Donohue said financial challenges will loom large for the next superintendent.

Bartlett said the board will meet in January and decide how to best to proceed in filing the superintendent's position.