Page 21 - June 2020 Issue.indd

EDUCATORS FOR EDUCATION

DONNA DIGIACOMO (District 1) and PAUL SCHOONOVER (District 2)

For Board of Education in Caroline County

Welcome back to the third installment insurance industry and in 1989 she Club and now serves as the Lions
of Educators for Education. As we moved to the Eastern Shore. In early Club liaison to the Leo Club. Donna
write this, it looks like there may be 1996, Donna went back to college continues to stay active in the school
light at the end of the tunnel. We are to become a teacher. In 1998 Donna as a chaperone. Donna was nominated
in Phase One of reopening the state received her teaching certification as one of Caroline County’s Most
and we continue to hope that everyone from the College of Notre Dame and Beautiful people four years ago and
is staying safe and healthy. We also in August of 1998 she began teaching was the 2019 Ridgely Lion of the year.
continue to thank everyone who has at Lockerman Middle School. In 2003 She is currently on the Scholarship
been staying home and especially Donna transferred to North Caroline Committee and will be expanding
all of the essential workers keeping High School where she remained until her role in the Lions Club as the
things going! Thank you! Please know her retirement this past February. 2019/2020 Vice President. Donna is
that all of you are in our thoughts and Donna’s road to becoming a teacher a very strong believer in community
prayers. taught her something valuable - service and looks forward to being
as important as education is, the even more active in her retirement.
Donna is a New Jersey transplant. traditional route is not for everyone.
A little over 30 years ago Donna fell Schools need to reach out to all Donna considers herself a lifelong
in love - with the Easter Shore and students, especially the ones who don’t learner who loves to share that
her spouse! Donna graduated from fit into the traditional mold. passion. Ironically, her main reason for
High School in 1975. After dropping retirement is her love of education.
out of college twice, Donna realized While teaching at Lockerman, She retired so she could run for the
three things about herself - college Donna was a Student Government Board of Education. Donna wants
wasn’t for her; she did not like living advisor, a Service Learning Fellow, to give back to the community that
in a city, she wanted to do something and oversaw several service learning allowed her to fulfill her dream job.
meaningful with her life. Donna joined projects including cleaning up the
the navy and began active duty in Grist Mill and walk-a-thons that Paul’s life in Caroline County and his
January 1978. In her 10 year naval raised over $10,000 for various 9/11 love of education will bring stability
career she reached the rank of Petty organizations. and a historical perspective to the
Officer 1st Class. She was stationed Board of Education while Donna’s
in Okinawa, Japan, Washington D.C., In 2006, Donna received a scholarship military experience, world travel, love
and Stuttgart, Germany. Her jobs from Salisbury University for of learning, and community service
ranged from supply coordinator, a Masters of Arts degree. She will bring fresh ideas and a no-
data processing management, and graduated that December with a 4.0 nonsense approach. Donna and Paul
systems analyst. Donna held a top- average. Not bad for a person who had will bring over 35 years of educational
secret security clearance, received the quit college three times! experience to the Board of Education
Defense Meritorious Service Medal While teaching at NCHS she wore along with real life experiences and
and two good conduct awards. During several different hats. She was a class leadership roles. Above all, Donna and
her tour in Germany, Donna received advisor four times. the North Caroline Paul believe in teaching over testing,
a Bachelor of Science degree from the Network News Director and the common sense, working together,
University of Maryland, University Service Learning Coordinator. She transparency, open communication and
College. It was at this point in her was also the advisor for the Diversity DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR
life that Donna realized her lifelong Club. Donna founded the NCHS Leo STUDENTS!
aversion to school had turned into a Club four years ago. Donna and her If you have any questions, please
passion for learning that she wanted to various clubs have been instrumental feel free to contact Donna at
share with others! in raising 10’s of thousands of dollars donnalouski57@gmail.com and Paul
and supplies for the local community at paulwschoonover@gmail.com. Stay
In November of 1987, Donna rejoined
civilian life. For the next 10 years she while performing thousands of hours tuned for the next installment of
worked in various jobs related to the of community service. Donna is an Educators for Education!
active member of the Ridgley Lions

We need YOU to The Board of Education is a non-partisan position. Unaffiliated voters have a vote.
vote in the primary Vote for Educators with Experience, Knowledge, and Leadership.
on June 2nd. “Stay safe and healthy. Remember, we care about you and we are here for you.”