Brian Donahue: No-nonsense principal steps down

Steely-eyed with a stocky build, Brian Donahue has held Cape High's top spot for seven years.

The former college athlete has run Cape High with precision during his tenure, placing high expectations on every student who walks through its vaulted entrance.

“Bringing a vision to the school and watching the achievement improve, when you see that, you see the school climate change,” he said. “Anytime you see so many kids from different races, denominations and academic abilities come together for a common cause, whether it's on our athletic fields, classrooms or cafeteria, they get along. You can tell the climate is there, and they're on their way to success.”

But it wasn't always that way. Donahue came on as high school principal at a time when Cape High was under improvement over its low test scores. “There were changes that were made as part of an improvement effort,” he said.

Under his direction, the school excelled for four straight years, earning accolades for its academic success. By year five, in 2015, Cape High was named a National Blue Ribbon School. Further success came when U.S. News and World Report named Cape High the fourth- best high school in the state – the only traditional public high school behind three charter schools – and gave Cape High a silver medal for its success.

Always the team player, Donahue gives credit to everyone who helped Cape reach its success.

“I've been very fortunate to work with so many dedicated staff and teachers,” he said.

New Castle boy

Donahue grew up in New Castle with his brother, sister and parents – transplants from Pennsylvania coal country who came to Delaware when his father got work at the DuPont company. Donahue still refers to it as DuPont’s, a name used by old-timers who worked during the company's heyday.

Growing up in the shadow of New Castle County airport, he spent his grade school years at Our Lady of Fatima, and then he wrestled at St. Peter's in Old New Castle, a historic community along the Delaware River. He went on to sports powerhouse Salesianum for high school, where he wrestled and played football.

Football was his favorite. He earned second team all-state as a linebacker and was an all-conference wrestler.

Donahue also went on to play football at Shippensburg University, a team that made it to the semifinals of the Division II championships.

With a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, he once envisioned a career path other than education, until life happened.

“I was going to be a police officer,” he said. “But I came home because my dad wasn't doing well.”

As chance would have it, he returned home to speak at a Salesianum sports banquet, and he was offered a driver's ed teaching job, which he promptly took.

“I started coaching and teaching, and I fell in love with it,” he said.

He coached football and wrestling and took classes at University of Delaware, Towson University, West Chester University and Wilmington. “I took a ton of education courses,” he said, earning a master's from Wilmington University before finishing everything but his dissertation for his doctorate from Wilmington University.

But he has no regrets.

“It's fine. This has been my get-a-doctorate degree, the past 15 years in administration. It's been a great ride,” he said.

In 1993, Donahue came down to Cape as defensive coordinator for a football team led by head coach George Glenn. At first, he continued living in New Castle, but he moved south to get away from upstate congestion. “Watching that traffic build up in the ‘90s, I think I got out just in time,” he said.

He taught special education at Sussex Consortium and eventually moved to Cape High to teach special education classes there.

Donahue also earned the head football coach position for four years, leading Cape to a couple of 9-1 seasons and trips to the state championship semifinals.

His no-nonsense demeanor served him well as he moved into administration in 2002 as an assistant principal at Cape High. By 2006, he was named associate principal at the Ninth Grade Academy, and a year later became principal of Mariner Middle.

Although Donahue has given up his day job, he plans to stay busy with a few home projects his wife, Susan, has lined up.

And he's confident Cape's star will continue to rise.

“We have such a great community and community support, I think it's going to continue with great success,” he said. “It goes fast. I feel like I worked at the best public high school in the state, and of course, I'm biased, but I also had the opportunity to work at the best private school in the state.”