Janice McDonald Contribution to CCSD Celebrated as Named to Legacy Stadium Wall of Fame
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Cherry Creek School District celebrated longtime district volunteer, employee, and former board member Janice McDonald as the newest inductee to the Legacy Stadium Educational Leadership Wall of Fame. The celebration took place at Overland High School, where McDonald volunteered and many of her children and grandchildren attended.
“Janice means a lot to this district – to our students, to our families, to our teachers, and to me. She serves in so many roles as daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, mentor – all titles of love and always with a focus on the children and the next generation. Her mentorship has given me the courage to make hard decisions and always do the right thing. We are so appreciative of Janice’s support and dedication to this community, and we are so glad we could honor her in this way,” said Superintendent Christopher Smith.
McDonald and her husband, the Rev. Wayne McDonald, moved to Aurora in 1975 to raise their family. Their five children attended Eastridge Elementary, then Ponderosa Elementary, Prairie Middle School, and Overland High School, before going on to earn their college degrees and start their own families. The McDonalds now have 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, 21 of whom also attended Cherry Creek Schools.
As her children went through the district, McDonald became a regular volunteer and a staple in the schools. At Ponderosa, she served as vice president and president of the PTCO and represented the school on Parents’ Council. She also volunteered with Panthers with a Purpose, a mentorship program for young Black girls. She joined the Cherry Creek School District, working as a paraprofessional for the Smoky Hill High School I-Team for three years before going on to work as a community liaison at Prairie Middle School. She served in that role for 21 years before retiring from the district.
However, retirement didn’t mean her service to students was over. In November 2015, McDonald was elected to the Cherry Creek Schools Board of Education as the first Black woman to serve in that role. As the representative for District B, she prioritized strengthening community involvement and focused on closing the achievement gap for all students.
Board President Angela Garland remembered Janice’s unwavering focus on the children, “Janice never lost sight of what really matters – always asking, ‘how are the children?’ She saw the best in me and everyone around her, including our students. Janice will forever be remembered for her service to our community.”
McDonald served two, four-year terms on the board. During her first term, she served as board secretary, then as vice president during her second term.
I’m incredibly honored to receive this recognition. I would not be here without the support of my family and so many other people who have played an integral role in my life. You never know where your path will take you, much like I never knew volunteering at Head Start would develop my love for education and set me on a path in the Cherry Creek School District. To be chosen and placed among so many distinguished recipients is a privilege, and serving this community has been one of my greatest pleasures,” said Janice McDonald during the Wall of Fame celebration.
McDonald will join the following honorees in the Legacy Stadium Educational Leadership Wall of Fame: Past superintendents Dr. Richard Koeppe, Dr. Robert Tschirki, Dr. Monte Moses, and Mary Chesley; educators John Buckner, Eric Flor, George Mansfield, Jack Platt, and Dr. Judy Hilton; community volunteer Robin Thorsen, and a group of Polton Award Honorees. The Wall of Fame, located in Legacy Stadium, is a tribute to exemplary individuals and groups who have left a lasting legacy in their dedication and commitment to excellence in Cherry Creek Schools.