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The Distinguished Educator Award, established in 1986, recognizes outstanding service and dedication to education. After earning a B.S. in secondary education with an emphasis in Social Studies in 1956, Jack O’Donnell accepted a position at Marlboro, New York, as a high school Social Studies and English teacher. While serving as the history department head at Marlboro, he worked with the state Social Studies department in Albany, NY, marking and reviewing regents’ questions and grading. He served as an assistant football coach for five years and under his leadership as head coach of boy’s varsity basketball, the team won numerous league titles and the first-ever sectional championship. Graduate work was completed at the State University of New York campuses of New Paltz, Albany, NYU and Ithaca.
In 1971, O’Donnell became principal of Marlboro High School, where he implemented various academic, extracurricular, and professional programs including the district computer codification system, a district planetarium curriculum for grades Kindergarten through 12, and a district zero-based budget. He established the Bridge program with local community colleges and initiated a work-study program with IBM.
Many Mansfield graduates began their teaching careers under the leadership of O’Donnell. He has received numerous acknowledgements and awards for his work, including the Civic Award from the Highland Area Chamber of Commerce Inc., and the School District Service Award. O’Donnell retired as principal of Marlboro High School in 1995 and in 1996 the Marlboro High School Auditorium was renamed the John F. O’Donnell Auditorium in recognition of his dedication to continuous revitalization and implementation of quality education.
He remains a member of the School Administrators of New York State and resides in Marlboro with his wife Joyce, a retired physical education teacher. Their daughter Jonnah is a teacher and coach for Marlboro School District.