Worcester Prep welcomes Head of School Dr. John McDonald

The Worcester Preparatory School board of trustees recently announced that on July 1, Dr. John McDonald assumed his new role as head of school.  

A leader with a lifelong passion for education and learning, McDonald comes to Berlin, Md., from Ticonderoga, N.Y., where he most recently served as superintendent of schools in the Ticonderoga Central School District. In addition to his notable educational background, leadership qualities and ability to connect with people, he brings extensive knowledge and experience in almost every facet of education, from independent schools to the public school sector.

McDonald holds an undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University, a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

He began his career at Bayside Academy, an independent school in Alabama with more than 700 students. There he taught history and then transitioned to middle school head and assistant head of school. 

For the past 19 years, he has served as the superintendent of an 800-student school district, managing a $20 million budget.

McDonald and his wife Andrea, along with their two daughters, relocated from New York to Berlin this summer. His youngest daughter, Anna, will attend Worcester Prep this fall, and his oldest daughter Meg is a student at the University of Delaware.