Esther McDonald has been an educator for over 40 years, including 23 years as an administrator, serving in schools across the socio-economic, geographic and grade-level spectrum prior to her retirement as a Principal in the Duarte Unified School District, Duarte, CA.  Her wide range of experiences gives her a special ability to relate to teachers, administrators, students and the greater community in any educational environment.

     Ms. McDonald began her career as a Pre-K-6 classroom teacher in suburban and urban schools in California, Alaska, and on a military base in Frankfurt, Germany.  She has been a principal in four different Pre-K-6 schools, including a start-up, multi-track-school in California, overseeing its growth from classes in “portables” to fully-operational serving 900 students.  She has been an assistant superintendent, district director of alternative programs, director of adult technical career programs and an adjunct university instructor.   She has been a consultant for The Breakthrough Coach Management Company and speaker/workshop leader across the country.  She is currently a consultant for teachers, principals, and small businesses and is now acting as one of the producers on a podcast titled “Flatline to Lifeline with Dr. Bill Long” with 3 seasons published and in the middle of producing Season 4.  Her passion continues to be brain research and its application in developing successful, resourceful, independent students in school and communities.

     Esther K. McDonald holds a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University, an M.A. in Curriculum & Supervision from Point Loma Nazarene University, and an Administrative Credential from Azusa Pacific University.

     

     Esther's keynote is Sense, Scents & Sensibilities. 

     "Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived." - Helen Keller

     Join me for an enlightening conversation tailored for early childhood educators!  Dive deep into the fascinating world of senses and their impact on teaching and learning.

What will you explore?

• What does the nose know?  Discover the hidden powers of scent and how it influences memory and learning.

• Sense and sensibility: Understand which sense might be most vital in teaching and how each sense contributes to student engagement.

• If you had to give up one sense:  Engage in thought - provoking discussions about sensory priorities and their implications.

• The ever-present sense:  Learn about the one sense that's always active and its role in our daily lives.

• Neurodivergent perspectives:  Gain strategies for using sensory experiences to support neurodivergent students effectively.