Donaldson accepts position as coordinator of secondary instruction

Heather Donaldson is coordinator of secondary instruction for Madison City Schools. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Heather Donaldson now is working as coordinator of secondary instruction for the Madison City Schools district.

In this position, Donaldson will oversee the curriculum and instruction that teachers deliver to students at Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools and Discovery and Liberty middle schools.

In addition, she will oversee career and technical education for the district. Donaldson reports directly to superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler.

“I am so excited to collaborate with the district instructional staff and secondary administration and faculty on continuing the tradition of excellence and identifying innovative practices we can implement that will meet our students’ needs and prepare them for college and the workforce,” Donaldson said.

During the 2013-2014 school year, she worked as assistant principal at Bob Jones High School, where she previously taught English courses and sponsored the literary magazine and girls’ golf team.

Donaldson was instrumental in James Clemens’ opening and maintained decorum when the first principal, Dr. John Green, resigned only months before the new high school opened. “To have a hand in the opening of a 6A grade high school with grades 9-12 was a tremendous privilege. I’m honored the district allowed me to play such a key role,” she said.

Donaldson also has worked as secondary instructional specialist and as assistant principal at Madison Elementary School.

Originally from Carrollton, Ill, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English language arts at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She received administration certification and education specialist in instructional leadership at the University of North Alabama.

Currently, she is working on her doctorate dissertation with the University of Alabama. “I have an article in print, ‘Educating Students about Peer Response’ in ‘Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric,'” Donaldson said.

Her husband Philip owns Philly’s Hot Corner retail store. Their son Luke is 3.5 years old, and son Connor is 1.5 years old.