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Education
B.A., Elon University, 2001 National Board Teacher Certification, 2009 M.A., North Carolina Central University, 2011 National Board Teacher Renewal, 2019 Courses AP Government & Politics AP Seminar Independent Study Multiculturalism Studies (Honors & Academic) Poverty in America (Honors & Academic) |
Extracurricular
Jordan High School
Publications Not the End, But the Beginning: The Impact of Race and Class on the History of Jordan High School, 1963-1988 (Patterson & Quinn Press) |
Biography
Mr. McDonald will begin his 20th year teaching in the Social Studies Department at Jordan High School during the 2020-2021 academic year. He currently teaches Advanced Placement Government and Politics and Multicultural Studies. Every other year, he also teaches Poverty in America, an elective course he created for both Jordan and Durham Public Schools. He also serves as the the Coordinator for the "JHS Distinguished Speaker Series." He was recently named the school's first Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Specialist, a position designed to implement the district's AIG plan while creating strategies to increase rigor, equity, and access for all students.
McDonald also works as an adjunct professor in the Program in Education at Duke University. In addition to supervising and coordinating student teachers, he teaches three courses including Teaching High School, Secondary School Issues: Pedagogy, Content, and Methods, and Effective Teaching Strategies. He is the author of Not the end, But the Beginning: The Impact of Race and Class on the History of Jordan High School, 1963-1988. He is also a frequent speaker on issues regarding race, class, poverty, education, teaching, and service. He lives with his wife, Linden, and their two children (Marlow and Aspen) in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Awards
Presentations
Mr. McDonald will begin his 20th year teaching in the Social Studies Department at Jordan High School during the 2020-2021 academic year. He currently teaches Advanced Placement Government and Politics and Multicultural Studies. Every other year, he also teaches Poverty in America, an elective course he created for both Jordan and Durham Public Schools. He also serves as the the Coordinator for the "JHS Distinguished Speaker Series." He was recently named the school's first Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Specialist, a position designed to implement the district's AIG plan while creating strategies to increase rigor, equity, and access for all students.
McDonald also works as an adjunct professor in the Program in Education at Duke University. In addition to supervising and coordinating student teachers, he teaches three courses including Teaching High School, Secondary School Issues: Pedagogy, Content, and Methods, and Effective Teaching Strategies. He is the author of Not the end, But the Beginning: The Impact of Race and Class on the History of Jordan High School, 1963-1988. He is also a frequent speaker on issues regarding race, class, poverty, education, teaching, and service. He lives with his wife, Linden, and their two children (Marlow and Aspen) in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Awards
- National Board Certification Renewal, 2019
- Recipient, National Endowment for the Humanities Grant - The Civil Rights Movement: Grassroots Perspectives - 2018
- Excellence in Community Outreach (JHS), 2017-2018
- North Carolina Outstanding Teacher of American History (Daughters of the American Revolution) – 2015
- Olmstead Award for Excellence in Teaching (Williams College) – 2014
- Claes Nobel Educator of the Year (National Society of High School Scholars) – 2013
- Most Inspirational Teacher – 2007, 2011, 2012 (voted by students)
- Fellowship, UNC Center for Poverty, Work, & Opportunity, 2010-2011
- National Board Certification, 2009
- Finalist, District Teacher of the Year 2009
- Recipient, WRAL Teacher of the Week (Spring 2009)
- Recipient, JHS Teacher of the Year 2009 (voted on by faculty)
- Nominee, JHS Teacher of the Year – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2016 (selected by faculty)
- DPS Staff Appreciation Award (Fall Semester) – 2005
- Best New Teacher (voted on by faculty/staff) – 2002
- History Department Award (Elon University) – 2001
- Eagle Scout, 1996
Presentations
- “Why I Teach” Panel Discussion, Panelist, (Duke University) – March 2016, November 2016
- “Time Management: ‘The key is in not spending time, but in investing it’” (Summer Scholars Camp for AP Students, Durham Public Schools) – July 2014, 2015, 2016
- “Poverty in America” (Duke Imagine – Duke Summer Programs) – July 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Poverty in America: Context, Curriculum and Classroom Resources” (Presenter: Eastern North Carolina Teach for America Summit) – November 2013.
- “Making Connections Between Service Learning and Secondary Teacher Preparation Programs” (The International Conference on Service-Learning in Teacher Education, Duke University) with Dr. Susan Wynn – June 2012
- “Class & Classism: Teaching Poverty in America” (North Carolina Social Studies Conference Presenter) – February, 2011
- “The Impact of Race and Class on the History of Jordan High School, 1963-1988” (Jordan High School, Social Studies Department PLC Meeting) – December 2010
- “Why Lesson Plan” (Duke University) – October 2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010
- “Perception and Reality: Differentiated Instruction” (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Masters of School Administration Program) – Fall, 2009
- “The Role of a Teacher: What Does It Mean to be a High School Teacher (Duke University) –February 2010
- “The Jordan Experience: What does it mean to be a part of Jordan High School?” (Jordan High School, New Teacher Orientation) – August 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016
- “Embodied Presidency” (North Carolina Social Studies Conference Co-Presenter) – Spring, 2008