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
Liz Insley P ’17, ’19, ’22

Vice President
Omari Jackson P ’30

Treasurer
Kristin McCarthy P ’21, ’23

Recording Secretary
Regan LaTesta ’92, P ’19, ‘22, ’26

Corresponding Secretary
Helen Anderson P '17, '22 

Division Chairs

Upper School Chair
Brian Nevin P ’20, '22

Upper School Assistant Chair
Jennifer McKinnell P '21, '24

Middle School Chair
Judith Tortora ’94, P ’25, ’27

Middle School Assistant Chair
Michelyn Woelfel P '27

Lower School Chair
Brandi Rey P ’26, ’30

Lower School Assistant Chair
Marci Gordon P '28 '32

Standing Committee Chairs

After Prom Co-Chairs
Sari Alperstein P '19 '21
Randi Hertzberg P '19 '20 '26

Community Engagement Co-Chairs
Jill Eisner P '20
Kristin Henry P '20 '24

Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair
Craig Thompson P '22 '24 '29

Fundraising Chair
Rebecca Fruman P '26 '29

Parent Education Chair
Judy Yu P ’20

Members-at-Large

Karima Carrington P '23
Phoebe Cunningham P '22
Cristina Ginsberg P '27 '30 '31 
Molly Hanes '20 
Flora Kisuule P '30
Merritt Miller P '24 '25
Iesha Moorehead P '22

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 by checking the box on your enrollment contract, donations ($50 suggested amount) are still welcome.  Please mail a check payable to McDonogh School, to Jen Little, McDonogh School, 8600 McDonogh Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117.

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

Lower School Meeting September 2019
Lower School Meeting October 2019
All-Division Meeting November 2019
Lower School Meeting December 2019

Middle School

Middle School Meeting September 2019
Middle School Meeting October 2019
All-Division Meeting November 2019

Upper School

Upper School Meeting September 2019
Upper School Meeting October 2019
All-Division Meeting November 2019
Upper School Meeting December 2019