Schools

Donnelly Named Acting Principal of Willow Dale

Dr. Donna Dunar has departed from her position after filing a suit alleging former Superintendent Thomas Turnbaugh sexually harrassed her.

With the resignation of Dr. Donna Dunar she has filed against Centennial School District, Michael Donnelly has been named acting principal of Willow Dale. Julia Henrich, assistant principal of Klinger Middle School, will be acting assistant principal.

It's a position Donnelly is familiar with, having served as acting principal for Leary Elementary since April 2010, when the school was starting its closing and transition process. He was only made aware of the situation regarding Dr. Dunar's departure this week, and plans to maintain the same initiatives she has implemented.

"We're going to hold on to the character counts and No Place for Hate programs," said Donnelly. "We're also going to incorporate the ."

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Friday marked the beginning of transporting the numerous boxes and materials from Leary to Willow Dale. Donnelly has asked teaching staff to begin unpacking on Monday.

As of Friday morning, Dr. Dunar has not come in to work for her scheduled last day. The last time Donnelly spoke with Dr. Dunar was Tuesday and was out of the office Wednesday and Thursday.

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"We didn't talk that much on Tuesday, and when we did it was about school-related matters," said Donnelly.

Following the revelations from the civil suit filed by Dr. Dunar, as reported yesterday by Upper Southampton Patch, parents in Centennial School District has expressed anger and frustration at the district's handling of the situation and sadness over losing a popular administrator.

"As a parent who has had the pleasure of Dr. Dunar as a Principal of Leary Elementary," commented Aimee Allston Svarczkopf, "she is a great educator and a person who honestly cares not only about the students she also cared about the teaching staff and the parents and community. It is appalling that she had to deal with this situation, CSD Board members should be ashamed of themselves."

"What an outrage!!!! I'm furious over this!!! She is an absolutely beautiful, and loving educator! My children were lucky to know her and have her serve as their principal!" wrote Annette Sheaffer.

Donnelly expects to hear more from parents in the days leading up to Willow Dale's opening and is willing to answer their questions as best he can, but wants to maintain his focus on the students as much as possible.

"They are two separate situations," he said. "What's going on with the district administration, and getting the children transitioned successfully and making sure they are getting everything they need for a successful education. That second one is what I am going to concentrate on."

After earning his Bachelor's from Dickinson College, Donnelly worked in Central Bucks School District as a Spanish teacher in 2002. In 2006, he was named Dean of Students for Tohickon Middle School. He has two Masters degrees, one from St. Joseph's University and Grand Canyon University and has just started a doctorate program with Temple University.


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