Biology Teacher Carol Macdonald has been teaching since 1988, starting her career at Nandua high school and moving to Salem in 1990. She started the environmental club and a genealogy/family history club; she was also junior varsity coach for the girls soccer team.
“I stopped coaching after three years because I got pregnant,” said Macdonald.
Macdonald decided to become a teacher during her sophomore year at James Madison University. She played soccer for JMU and was asked to be on JMU’s nationally ranked Archery Team (but couldn’t due to Genetics and education classes conflicting with practice and travel). She is the oldest child in a military family,
“I was in six different elementary schools by the 6th grade,” said Macdonald. “I played soccer for Green Run HS and Brandon Junior High. I was a cheerleader for both schools too.”
Macdonald has worked for every principal Salem has ever had.
“Mr. French (1st principal who opened Salem) was my principal at Green Run,” said Macdonald, “he was a good guy and really looked out for me.”
Macdonald loves painting, drawing, and making jewelry. She is an artist at heart.
“I always wanted to be an illustrator for science textbooks and publications,” said Macdonald.
Macdonald is an adventurous woman who loves to explore. She has jumped out of an airplane, driven coast to coast, suffered many injuries from her various sports activities, been in five major tornados and is also considered her neighborhood snake relocator.
She has a love for anything science and enjoys sharing her interests with her students.
“I enjoy the excitement of kids accomplishing something they weren’t able to do before. Summer break is pretty cool too!” said Macdonald. “I love that they are a blank slate and at the beginning of their greatness. I get to see them grow up, find themselves and eventually graduate to become even greater!”
Macdonald is a proud mom of two grown sons, one in the Army and one in the Navy.
