Parents

The McDonogh Parents Association's role is to foster a trusting partnership between the parents and the school through communication, parent education, and community interaction. Our goal is to create a warm, welcoming and inclusive community for all McDonogh families.

The Parents Association supports the School's philosophy and embraces our diversity of background, culture and thought. In following John McDonogh's directive "to do the greatest amount of good" in our daily lives, we hope to make positive contributions, broaden parent understanding of the school, and serve the community through a variety of volunteer efforts.

Officers

President
Omari Jackson P ’30

Vice President
Jennifer McKinnell P ’21, ’24 

Treasurer 
Kristin McCarthy P ’21, ’23 

Recording Secretary
Regan LaTesta P ’22, ’26 

Corresponding Secretary
Helen Anderson P ’22 

Immediate Past President
Liz Insley P ’22 

Division Chairs

Lower School Division Chair – Marci Gordon P ’28, ’31    
Lower School Assistant Division Chair – Kathy Reider P ’31, ’33 
Middle School Division Chair – Judith Tortora P ’25, ’27 
Middle School Assistant Division Chair – Michelyn Woelfel P ’27 
Upper School Division Chair – Brian Nevin P ’22 
Upper School Assistant Division Chair – YuZon Wu P ’22, ’24 

Standing Committee Chairs

After Prom Committee Co-Chairs – Jen Busse P ’22, Jenny McGee P ’22, ’24, Joan Royals P ’22
Community Engagement Chair – Nicole Keelty P ’26, ’28
Community Engagement Vice Chair - Merritt Miller P ’24, ’25
Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair – Craig Thompson P ’22, ’24, ’29
Equity & Inclusion Committee Vice Chair - Kanika Jackson P ’30
Fundraising Chair - Rebecca Fruman P ’26, ’29
Parent Education Chair – Randi Hertzberg P ’26

Members-at-Large

Jassi Ahuja P ’23 
Ope Arowojolu P ’29, ’32 
Kelly Blavatt P ’32, ’34 
Phoebe Cunningham P ’22 
Cristina Ginsberg P ’27, ’30 
Meredith Kelly P ’21, ’25 
Iesha Moorehead P ’22 
Brandi Rey P ’26, ’30 
Whitney Whiteman P ’33 

The Family Fee is used for the many activities hosted by the MPA throughout the year, such as parenting education events, A Honey of a JamFest, teacher appreciation meals, community engagement programming, After Prom, student events, and much more. If you did not contribute to the Family Fee yet, it's not too late. Donations ($50 suggested amount) are still welcome and can be easily made here.

McDonogh has a long history of parent volunteerism. In 1923, when the school was 50 years old, parents founded “The Mother’s Club” primarily to raise money for school necessities. Dues were $1 a year. The group bought McDonogh its first school bus, in fact, in 1924.

The Mother’s Club became “The Patrons’ Club” in 1931, which was the same year the club’s first male president took office. The name “Patron” reflected the days when McDonogh enrolled orphans and half-orphans and sponsors paid for their education. McDonogh Patrons remained mostly a fundraising organization until recent years.

The word “Club” was dropped in 2004. After all, Patrons was not a club to which one could belong. Every parent of a McDonogh student was considered part of the Patrons group.

Since fundraising is no longer a primary goal, the mission statement has been revised to reflect that. At the same time, our board of directors voted to change our name to “The McDonogh Parents Association,” which we feel more accurately reflects our identity.

Our mission statement describes our desire to create a warm, friendly, and inclusive atmosphere within the McDonogh community. It also serves as a complement to the school’s mission statement, which includes the directive of school founder John McDonogh “to do the greatest possible amount of good.”

Documents

Guidelines for Committee Chairpersons

Forms

Expense Reimbursement Form
Event Information Form

Lower School

September Meeting
October Meeting
November All-Division Annual Meeting
December Meeting

Middle School

September Meeting
October Meeting
November All-Division Annual Meeting
December Meeting

Upper School

September Meeting
October Meeting
November All-Division Annual Meeting
December Meeting
January Meeting