DONNA McDONALD: school principals really are CEOs nowadays.
PALM Beach Rotary Club has acquired a new member — Donna McDonald, principal of the Thornlie Senior High School.
Ms McDonald, who “lives just around the corner”, came to the meeting to check us out, decided she liked what she saw and put up her hand to join that very night.
This is not her first foray into the world of Rotary. She was formerly a member of the Cockburn club but found she could not attend its breakfast meetings and get to work on time in the metropolitan area.
“I really miss Rotary,” she said, “so decided to do something about it this year for me.”
Her school is not a difficult one, even though Thornlie is a low socio-economic area like Rockingham, she said.
It has 1200 students and 150 staff, so is not one of the biggest schools. Some have up to 2000 students, she said.
Principles really are CEOs nowadays, Ms McDonald said.
She has been teaching for 28 years and a principal for 14. In the classroom she specialised in English and science.
Before becoming an educationalist, she worked in Occupational Health & Safety with Woodside Petroleum.
“That’s where I learned my management skills,” she said.
In her private life, Mrs McDonald has raised five children. Her husband passed away in 10 years ago.
Palm Beach Rotary president Rick Dawson said Ms McDonald was especially welcome because the club wanted to attract more female members.