ALEXANDER (SANDY) MCDONALD 10518 – 122 Avenue Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 7N4 Home Phone: 780-532-0469 Work Phone: 780-532-4491 Mobile Phone: 780-296-4676 Twitter: @acmcdonaldgp Blog: www.over40andstillinschool.blogspot.com e-Portfolio: http://bit.ly/acmcdonaldeportfolio

While my specific objective may vary slightly, depending upon the purpose my resume is being prepared for, in general my calling is to contribute directly and meaningfully to the success of every student and staff member in the district where I work. Every child deserves the opportunity to flourish while at school! I am proud of the educational opportunities I have helped provide students and staff and of the learning community we have created. I believe my personal vision, evident in my experience, is good for all learners. I want to serve those in my community and give our students every advantage, preparing them for success following graduation into a global, competitive world.

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDIES Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership In Progress, Expected Completion Date Summer 2012

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Degree Granted 2002

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA FACULTY OF EDUCATION Bachelor of Education – Secondary Math and Business Education Degree Granted 1991

OBJECTIVE

EDUCATION

AUGUST 2010 - PRESENT Director of Educational Technology Grande Prairie Public School District

Contributing to District and provincial leadership through participation on the GPPSD Central Office education executive team and through active membership in the College of Alberta School Superintendents.

Supporting and promoting the use of educational technology to contribute to the success of students in the District. Collaborated with others and effected system-level change in one year with respect to the integration of educational technology in teaching and learning.

Liaise with Director of Instructional Technology to support both departments in continuous improvement efforts.

Contributed to development of leadership capacity within the district through collaborating in the implementation of the GPPSD Leadership for Tomorrow Program.

Successfully provided learning opportunities to students as Principal of district Summer Programs.

JULY 2009 – PRESENT Online Instructor University of Phoenix, College of Education Masters of Education Program

Facilitate online, graduate courses on the Role and Functions of the Principal. Provide instruction and facilitate learning during asynchronous courses.

Create and facilitate the work of online learning teams to develop learners’ collaborative skills.

Provide regular descriptive feedback on student posts, on weekly written assignments, and through provision of weekly summative feedback.

FEBRUARY 2007 – JUNE 2009 Principal of Derek Taylor Public School Grande Prairie Public School District

Successfully addressed all aspects of a new school opening. Coordinated all vision development, planning, hiring, ordering, start-up activities, curricular planning, student enrolment, etc.

Creatively engaged staff, students and parents in the development of a shared vision of education at DTPS. District and government survey results demonstrate success at building effective parent relationships. Actively worked to establish DTPS as a good neighbor, helping to graduate students ready to be good neighbors!

Engaged school staff in the work of realizing our vision through the work of school planning. Effectively used a school planning team to create and support the three-year school plan.

Demonstrated leadership at the jurisdictional level through active participation in district improvement and planning activities. Served on the following district committees: Technology

EMPLOYMENT

Planning Committee, Administrator Evaluation Committee, Occupational Health and Safety Committee, and the Leadership For Tomorrow Planning Committee.

SEPTEMBER 1997 – JANUARY 2007 Vice Principal of Crystal Park School and I.V. Macklin Public School Grande Prairie Public School District

Implemented organizational changes at both schools to facilitate staff participation and support school structure reorganization as Professional Learning Communities.

Demonstrated creative problem solving through flexible scheduling and budgeting to support unique school needs.

Contributed to District leadership through involvement in numerous committees, facilitation of a variety of professional learning opportunities, and participation in District initiatives.

SEPTEMBER 1991 – JUNE 1997 Teacher with Grande Prairie Public School District and Peace Wapiti School District

Taught math, science, physical education, business education, and a variety of other courses at the Grande Prairie Composite High School, Hythe Regional Junior High School, Crystal Park School, and the Grande Prairie Public School District Summer School Program.

For as long as I have been in administration, I have had the privilege of facilitating a wide range of learning opportunities each year locally as well as provincially on a wide range of topics. The most recent presentations from the current year include: Zone 1 Alternate School Year Study (Alberta School Boards Association and Alberta Education) – Presented to Zone School Board Associations in Edmonton, Calgary, and Grande Prairie Networked School Leaders (Northwest Regional Learning Consortium and Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium) – Presented to school/district leaders in Grande Prairie Connected School Business Officials (Alberta School Business Officials Conference 2011) - Jasper I currently have two articles in press, related to systemic supports needed for adopting new technologies. They are to be printed in upcoming editions of the Canadian Association of School Administrators Magazine (Summer 2011 issue) and the August edition of the School Administrator, published by the American School Administrators’ Association.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Contributing to my community is a priority of mine, and will remain so in my new community. I have a lengthy history of volunteering in a variety of different activities and I currently sit as a member of the City of Grande Prairie Economic Development Advisory Committee. In previous years I have served as an executive member of the Mission Heights Playground Society and as a Board member of Mountain Plains Community Services of the North. In addition, for many years I have been an active participant in local athletics as an athlete, coach, and executive member for a variety of different sports. I have also volunteered for larger events hosted in Grande Prairie, including the Canada Winter Games (Security Team Leader) and the Alberta Summer Games (Rugby Venue Coordinator).

Dr. Roger Mestinsek Acting Superintendent, Grande Prairie Public School District Grande Prairie Alberta

Mr. Lance Therrien Acting Deputy Superintendent Grande Prairie Public School District

Mr. Jim Gibbons Senior Education Advisor Alberta School Boards Association

Mr. Frank Canavan Director of Educational Supports Grande Prairie Public School District

Ms. Cheryl Brown Director of Inclusive Supports Grande Prairie Public School District

Mr. Bryan Funk Vice Principal, Derek Taylor Public School Grande Prairie Public School District

REFERENCES

COMMUNITY SERVICE

*note: contact information has been removed while resume is shared publically