Andrea McDonald
Berlin
Summary
Educator and advocate with more than 20 years of experience working with school systems and students, and supporting the advancement of marginalized populations, including low-income, ethnic and racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ youth in both rural and urban settings. Committed to social change, equity, inclusivity, outreach, and social impact with expertise in public-private partnership development, workforce development, project management, mentoring, volunteer and student engagement, team building, leadership development, event planning, and public speaking. Experience includes working remotely and up to 30% travel.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Social Impact
American Psychological Association
08.2024 - Current
- Implement community-based needs assessment models to enhance solution development in Social Innovation Hub.
- Conduct needs assessments with engaged communities, integrating population health, EDI principles, and health equity.
- Lead empathy mapping processes to deepen understanding of community needs and experiences.
- Spearheaded initiatives utilizing psychological expertise to foster social change.
- Collaborate across APA to form project teams addressing critical societal issues.
- Engage elected and appointed leaders and experts in discussions on APA action recommendations.
- Ensure community-based participatory approaches throughout innovative solution development stages.
- Co-lead Network for Resilient Pk-12 Schools in Extreme Climates initiatives.
- Contribute to Innovation Teams on AI in Research and Academia and Human Rights, Fairness and Dignity in the Workplace.
Director, Safe and Supportive Schools Project
American Psychological Association
06.2020 - 08.2024
- Lead APA’s Safe and Supportive Schools Project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC-DASH), focusing on promoting health equity, mental health, and wellness in schools post-COVID. The Director supervises project staff, provides technical assistance and professional development to support the increase of protective factors that promote Safe and Supportive Environments (SSE), and is responsible for the success of all aspects of the project, including:
- Facilitated the development, update, and distribution of 21 evidence-based professional development resources and programs, and contributed to the development of an annual program assessment.
- Provide technical assistance and professional development to each of the 28 partnering school districts/consortia to successfully implement safe and supportive school environments. Focus areas, as follows, help promote safety, inclusion and health equity; 1) Positive youth development programs for students, 2) Student-led clubs that support LGBTQ+ youth (GSAs), 3) Classroom management, 4) Overall support for LGBTQ+ students, and 5) Parent engagement.
- Collaborate with internal and evaluation team to collect, report, and synthesize data and regularly review all data sources, including internal technical assistance process and outcome measures, CDC Profiles, rapid feedback reports, and local and national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS), to adjust technical assistance as needed.
- Co-facilitate the Professional Learning Community (PLC) of project service providers, leading the development and synthesis of an annual program assessment and collaborative training for partner schools.
- Collaborate with professional development contractor annually to update professional development metrics and offerings.
- Compliance with federal fiscal monitoring, evaluation, and reporting regulations.
- Oversee a project budget of $2.3 million.
- Supervision of Project Coordinator and collaboration across the association with subject matter experts, finance, general counsel, information technology, and communications teams.
- APA Social Innovation Task Force member, helping guide evolution of APA’s public interest work into an innovation framework.
- APA Leadership Academy Graduate, 2023. Key development areas include Leading in Uncertain Times, Building a Healthy and Resilient Team, Coaching Essentials, and Applying the Appropriate Leadership Style.
Director of Programs & Initiatives
CFES Brilliant Pathways
01.2014 - 05.2020
- In partnership with member schools, implemented college and career awareness programs to engage students, most of whom will be first-generation college students, in mentoring, the development of the Essential Skills for success, and exposure to college and career pathways. Requirements include initiating and sustaining strategic partnerships with K-12 schools, higher ed, community organizations, and businesses to create opportunities for students in low-income rural and urban communities.
- Partnered with Lead Educational Agency to secure federal GEAR UP $11 million grant.
- Recruited community partners to provide in-kind services of $1.6 million annually.
- Program lead in up to 15 public schools concurrently in low-income communities, including Atlanta, GA, Pinellas County, FL, Polk County, FL, Sarasota County, FL, multiple districts in the Adirondacks of NY, Boston, MA, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, TX, Broward County, FL, Lodi, CA, Miami and Ketchum, OK.
- Accountability and reporting to federal, school district, corporate, foundation, and individual funders.
- Directed engagement in mentoring and skill development of 1,500 students annually.
- Recruitment and training of volunteers to mentor in each school.
- Developing and sustaining partnerships to provide mentoring, career exposure, and college knowledge. Key partnerships include EY College MAP (Mentoring for Access and Persistence), United States Military Academy Center for Leadership & Diversity in STEM Middle School Outreach Program, Southwest Airlines K-12 Career Outreach, and Atlanta Hawks Mentoring.
- Facilitation of annual strategic planning workshops for new and returning schools, college, and community partners.
- General support of 150 urban and rural affiliate partnerships in 25 states.
- Extensive event planning for annual national conference and monthly regional workshops.
- Staff training.
School Counselor
Crown Point Central School
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Sole Pk-12 counselor responsible for scheduling, mandated counseling, classroom guidance programs, and assisting students in areas such as post-secondary planning, career development, academic achievement, social-emotional development, and extracurricular activities. Additional responsibilities included:
- Chief Information Officer to provide required data to the NYS Department of Education.
- Liaison, CFES Brilliant Pathways.
- Leadership Team for Panther Partners schoolwide mentoring program.
- Class Advisor & National Honor Society Advisor.
- Search Committee, K-12 Principal.
- Member: Crown Point Education Association.
School-Community Coordinator
Champlain Valley Educational Services – Board Of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Implemented federally funded Safe Schools-Healthy Students grant for five area school districts by engaging students, parents, educators, and community partners representing mental health, law enforcement and social services. Deliverables included the creation of New York State licensed mental health clinics in each school building, programming to improve parent-child relationships, proactive relationships between students and law-enforcement, and summer programs to support at-risk students.
- Liaison to school administrators and community partners.
- Presenter for FAST (Families and Schools Together).
- Certified Trainer, Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
- Certified Presenter, Search Institute Developmental Assets Framework.
Program Director
CFES Brilliant Pathways (formerly Foundation for Excellent Schools)
01.2002 - 01.2008
- Building and strengthening partnerships between K-12 schools and higher education to raise the academic aspirations and performance of low-income youth so that they can prepare for, gain access to, and succeed in college, ready to enter the workforce. Areas of focus included Vermont and the Adirondack region of New York.
- Liaison to school administrators, community and college partners.
- Rebranding committee.
- Coordinator, Service Learning.
Personnel Director
Silver Bay YMCA
01.1996 - 01.1998
- Responsible for supervision, recruitment, hiring, labor regulations, training, and scheduling for 20 full-time and 200 seasonal staff, and management of residence life for seasonal employees. In partnership with the Board of Trustees, maintained and updated the personnel policy and served on the strategic planning committee.
- Direct Supervision of 3 full time and 15 seasonal staff.
- Coordinator, international hiring.
- Ambassador, Tozanso, Japan, YMCA exchange program.
- Facilitator, annual staff orientation.
Education
Global Leadership Diploma - Organizational Leadership & Wellbeing
United Nations University For Peace Executive Education Centre
San Jose, Costa Rica06.2026
Master of Science - Education
The College of Saint Rose
New York05.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Union College
06.1992
Skills
- Program Development
- Youth Empowerment
- Budget Management
- Event Planning
- Program Implementation
- Mentoring
- Leadership Development
- Public Speaking
- Evaluation
- Social Innovation
- Cultural Competence
- Communication
- Community Outreach
- Strategic Partnerships
- Advocacy
- Well-being
Volunteer Experience
- The Comfort Cub, Founding Board Member & Advisory Board, 01/01/13, present
- International Paper, Community Advisory Board, 01/01/06, 12/31/20
- Ticonderoga Arts, Volunteer, 01/01/14, 12/31/20
- Fort Ticonderoga, Board of Trustees & National Association, 01/01/18, 12/31/20
- Willsboro Central School, Mentor, 01/01/14, 06/30/19
- Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Board of Directors, 01/01/12, 12/31/15
- Silver Bay YMCA, Trustee & Secretary to the Board, 01/01/04, 12/31/10
- Essex County, NY, Board Member - Community Services, 01/01/11, 12/31/13
Presentations
- Mind/Body Synergy: the Physical Side of Leadership, Happiness and Wellbeing, United Nations University for Peace Gross Global Happiness Summit, 03/01/25
- Networking to Support GSA Advisors & LBGTQ+ Students, Partners for Rural Impact Summit, 04/01/24
- Using Staff Training to Build Safe and Supportive Schools For All Students, Adolescent Health Initiative, Univ of Michigan, 05/01/24
- Equity and Inclusion Peer Learning Exchange, ICF Professional Development Conference Panelist, 03/01/23
- Building a Culture of Respect in the Classroom, New York City Public Schools GSA Summit, 01/01/24
- Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools, Stonewall National Education Program Symposium, 04/01/22
Timeline
Director, Social Impact
American Psychological Association
08.2024 - Current
Director, Safe and Supportive Schools Project
American Psychological Association
06.2020 - 08.2024
Director of Programs & Initiatives
CFES Brilliant Pathways
01.2014 - 05.2020
School Counselor
Crown Point Central School
01.2010 - 01.2013
School-Community Coordinator
Champlain Valley Educational Services – Board Of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
01.2008 - 01.2010
Program Director
CFES Brilliant Pathways (formerly Foundation for Excellent Schools)
01.2002 - 01.2008
Personnel Director
Silver Bay YMCA
01.1996 - 01.1998
Global Leadership Diploma - Organizational Leadership & Wellbeing
United Nations University For Peace Executive Education Centre
Master of Science - Education
The College of Saint Rose
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Union College