Staff Spotlight: Jan Donovan, Site Administrator

Jan Donovan, Site Administrator for Connect Academy High School, brings nearly 30 years of experience in therapeutic education to his new leadership role.

At Connect Academy, leadership means building strong relationships, supporting students through challenges, and fostering environments where growth is always possible. Jan Donovan, Site Administrator for the upcoming Connect Academy High School, brings nearly three decades of experience in special education and alternative schools. Jan also brings his passion for helping students reach their full potential.

A Lifelong Career in Special Education
With 27 years in the field, Jan’s work has consistently centered on supporting students with significant behavioral needs. “I was successful working with kids with major behavior issues and just moved up to administration as a result,” he shares. Before joining Connect Academy, he served as principal at two other therapeutic high schools and spent six years consulting with public schools across urban, suburban, small-town, and rural communities. Jan’s experience working with students from various backgrounds has allowed him to build the skills required to reach students from every walk of life.

A Shared Vision for Student Independence
Jan joined Connect Academy after meeting with Chairman Will McDermott and Dr. Susan King. A mutual friend introduced him to the leadership team and after meeting the team, he knew he would be a great fit for Connect Academy. What stood out to him most was the mission. “I was impressed with the concept that we are to do all we can to make the students as independent as possible so that they can have a chance to be a productive and independent citizen.”

Helping students move toward independence, and reshaping how they view their own abilities, is central to his leadership. “My goal is to change the mindset of the students and families so that students take pride in what they can accomplish, including being independent and able to support themselves.”

Creating the High School from the Ground Up
Jan is currently working with leadership to build the foundation of Connect Academy High School. “Having the opportunity to help create a school from the ground up is also a reason I am here,” he says. “At this point, I am getting to know the other administrators and visiting their schools to get a ‘feel’ for how Connect works. The high school will be different, but it will still be part of the same philosophy.”
He’s already putting systems into place. “I am in the process of creating processes for tracking student goals and we will meet as a staff to see how we are doing on helping the student progress.”

Building a Strong Team Culture
Jan is deeply committed to collaborative leadership. “I work hard to truly create a team. I like it when people visit and they are not quite sure who, in a classroom, is the teacher, paraprofessional, or social worker as all are working together to teach the kids.”

That team-based mindset extends to every stakeholder. “I have always kept the district representatives informed about their kids and have involved them in any major decisions impacting their kids.”
He believes in visible leadership: “I am always in and out of classrooms to show support and encouragement to the staff.”

Family Engagement & Support
Jan also acknowledges the unique challenges of family involvement at the high school level. “Family engagement is always a priority when students get to high school,” he notes. His approach to parent communication is proactive and personalized. “I have always kept in contact with parents, but also plan to have weekly (or monthly depending on the need) notes going out to parents. I will develop a list of parent goals as well as student goals at intake and will be in touch with the parents on progress towards these goals. We will have parent teacher conferences as well.”

The Reward of Making a Difference
For Jan, the most meaningful part of his work is hearing from former students. “The most rewarding part of this job is running into former students and hearing them say that they would not have made it if we had not been there for them.”

He’s proud to continue that mission through Connect Academy High School.

Welcome to Connect, Jan!
We’re thrilled to have Jan Donovan leading Connect Academy High School. His extensive experience, student-first mindset, and dedication to staff and family collaboration are already shaping a school where students will be challenged, supported, and prepared for independence. 

Stay tuned for more Staff Spotlights as we continue to highlight the incredible team behind Connect Academy’s mission.


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