Joan McDonald

Joan McDonald retired from the Arizona Department of Education as the Deputy Associate Superintendent for Exceptional Student Services in June 2012. Previously, she retired from the Tolleson Elementary School District in June 2006, where she served as the Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Joan has more than 50 years of experience as a special education teacher and administrator, spanning pre-K through grade 12, in New York, Massachusetts, and Arizona.

Joan has served on executive committees for the Arizona Council for Exceptional Children, the Special Education Administrators’ Association of Arizona, and the Council of Administrators for Special Education. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Council for Exceptional Children (2003-2006) and the Board of Directors for the CEC Pioneers Division (President, 2017).

Joan earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, PA, her Master of Science Degree in Special Education from Fordham University in New York, NY, and has completed all but the dissertation for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

Joan joined the Elizabeth Farrell Society in 2023.