Parkland 'Family' Says Goodbye to Superintendent Louise Donohue

There seemed a general consensus among those attending an open house Wednesday for Parkland School District Superintendent June 30, at the close of the school year.

Her lasting legacy, repeated many, was her ability to command respect yet show compassion for the individuals who make up the Parkland “family” – a word used often to describe anyone involved with the school district.

“It’s a big school district and we have worked hard to build the personal touch,” Donohue said during a break in the line of people greeting her. “It’s a culture based on respect and relationships … It’s become part of the fabric of Parkland.”

The open house, held at , attracted at least 75 people, including teachers, administrators and school board members who came to say farewell.

The Chorale of , a musical group of about 25 students, performed as people lined up to sign a guest book and say their personal goodbyes to Donohue.

Parkland High art teacher Linda LaDue presented Donohue with a watercolor painting of a chair at the beach. The beach chair was covered with things that are meaningful to Donohue, including a bag of books and a beach ball with the Parkland logo.

School board President Jayne Bartlett said Donohue will be greatly missed.

“She is compassionate and kind, and yet, she has garnered such respect,” Bartlett said.

When she attends events involving other school districts throughout the state, she said, she gets reminded of how fortunate Parkland has been to have Donohue in the top spot for seven years.

“Everyone here has the utmost respect for her … She was a gift to us,” Bartlett said.

School board member Robert Cohen was president of the board when Donohue was promoted to superintendent. “It was my thrill to see her move to that leadership position,” Cohen said.

Since then, he said, Donohue has built “a legacy of consensus building and team building. This district has reached new levels of excellence under her leadership.”

Donohue tends to “deflect all credit to others,” Cohen said, “but she’s in charge, and she’s made it happen.”

School board member Roberta Marcus said, “She’s been a mentor, a friend. My respect for her is limitless.”

Teachers in attendance voiced similar praise.

“Louise has always treated us as a member of her family,” Patti Heavener, a teacher at Orefield Middle School, said, adding that Donohue took a personal interest in the staff members’ families.

“She’s a fantastic leader,” said Sandi Gackenbach, a teacher at Orefield and Springhouse middle schools and president of the Parkland Education Association, the teachers union. “She has always been compassionate, visionary. We’re going to miss her terribly.”

Dina Dewald, a teacher at Springhouse Middle School, agreed. “Parkland is an awesome place to work, and Dr. Donohue has been part of our family,” Dewald said. “She definitely makes connections to all the teachers to help make it a Parkland family.”

Jeff Wetherhold, a physics teacher at Parkland High School for 27 years, gave credit to Donohue for helping to make the physics department “one of the best in the state.”

Donohue, 56, worked in other school districts, first in teaching and then in administration, before joining Parkland in 1997. She became superintendent in 2004, moving up from the assistant superintendent’s position.

She led the Parkland School District through school expansions, redistricting and academic achievements. 

District Spokeswoman Nicole McGalla said Parkland’s staff so far has donated $3,000 – and still counting – for a scholarship in Donohue’s name.