“I am proud of the work I have done in LUSD. The time has come for me to focus on supporting my wife in her career pursuits, as she has done for me for many years,” said McDonald. “We have two potential 2024 and/or 2028 Olympic athletes that I need to support in better fashion.”

During McDonald’s tenure, Huyck Stadium’s track and field was finally upgraded and updated, LUSD added physical education teachers to the elementary schools, solar panels were installed at Buena Vista and Cabrillo High, social-emotional counselors were added to all 16 campuses, a Visual and Performing Arts Academy was created at Los Berros, the Dual-Immersion pathway was solidified and expanded to include elementary, middle and high school students, gopher-meshing was installed at the elementary and high schools, and much more.

“My focus has always been on the kids and doing what’s best for them,” reflected McDonald.

McDonald has been recognized multiple times during his time at LUSD. He was awarded the California Continuation Education Association Superintendent of the Year, ACSA Region 13 Superintendent of the Year, YMCA After-School Program Leadership Award, and SELPA Superintendent of the Year.

Thomas Anderson was selected as the new CEO/Superintendent of Great Valley Academies (Modesto/Salida) and assumed duties on July 1, 2022. As a long-time central valley educator in the Stockton, Sacramento and Manteca areas, Anderson has served in districts ranging in size from 2,000 to 40,000 students in the positions of Director, Assistant and Associate Superintendent after over a decade teaching primarily in special education. Having led Student Services, Special Education/SELPA and Educational Services, Anderson will assume his new role as Superintendent of a thriving charter organization founded in the principles of relational and intrinsic motivation, mastery learning and character education.