What sets The Donoho School apart is our faculty. These individuals provide the living curriculum for Donoho students in and out of the classroom. Each week we will feature a member of the faculty and his or her story. We hope you will enjoy getting to know our faculty members throughout the school year and will stop by each week to read the latest Donoho Story!
Donoho Stories: Ms. Donna McKinnon
What do you teach at The Donoho School?
I teach 5th and 6th grade grammar and language arts.
What do you love about The Donoho School?
What has impressed me about The Donoho School from my first experience on campus is the atmosphere; we have an environment of excellence and high expectations that extends from the youngest student, throughout the grade levels, the faculty and support staff, and all the administrators. I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but you feel it from everyone. It challenges me to rise to the next level as a teacher, as a co-worker and as a role model to my students.
Why do you like teaching at The Donoho School? What motivated you to become a teacher at The Donoho School?
An experience I had just last week exemplifies why I love teaching at an independent school and at Donoho specifically. The results of an exam I had given revealed a writing skill that needed some work in many of the students. Rather than being bound to stay on a certain “page” in the curriculum, I had the freedom to set aside my lesson plans for a couple of days and spend time strengthening the skill area, which I felt was more vital to my students. I really don’t see how anyone who is passionate about education can fail to be motivated and encouraged by that!
What is a unique experience, talent or interest that you bring to your classroom to help shape the learning experience of your students?
Writing is most definitely my “thing”; I have some professional experience as a journalist and ad copy writer, but I also have a very real, personal love for the writing process and a well-told tale. I desire to instill an appreciation of the many values of good writing to my students, and by extension, an enjoyment and appreciation of reading, as well. At the end of the day, if I can make a small step towards that, then it’s been a rewarding endeavor.
What sets Donoho students apart from students in other schools?
It’s their motivation, I think. Again, every student, regardless of age, has goals and expectations he or she sets for himself or herself, and it matters to them whether or not they reach those goals. I have also seen a spirit of acceptance and family here that you don’t often see with elementary students.
The Donoho School tagline is “Discover the Difference.” How do you accomplish this in your role at Donoho?
I try to be a part of the “Donoho Difference” by being a teacher who cares about her students enough to be aware of their struggles and their triumphs – and shares in them when they happen – and to scaffold them in ways that help them achieve their goals.
What do you want your students to gain from having known you?
If I’m honest, I’d have to say I want them to really feel the enjoyment I still feel from learning and discovering, to feel the wonder in watching a spider outside the classroom window, to long for that “lightbulb moment” when you finally understand something you haven’t understood before, to welcome a spirited debate with someone who knows more about a topic than you do. It’s kind of a buzz word with educators to say that we are life-long learners, but I hope that becomes true of all my students, no matter their career pursuits.
Ms. McKinnon earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Samford University and worked in the areas of journalism and advertising before leaving the workforce to stay home with her three boys. She returned to JSU to work on her Master’s in Education after spending nearly a decade in preschool classrooms and as a teacher’s aide. When she is not teaching, she enjoys running, swimming, and biking, and has competed in several local running and triathlon events. She also enjoys reading and cooking.
