Jeff Donnelly

4th-8th Grade Division Head

Jeff Donnelly is an educational leader with over 20 years of experience dedicated to student growth from the middle years through high school graduation. Throughout his career, he’s focused on the essential balance between academic excellence and character development. He views school not just as a place of instruction but as a community where a student’s sense of safety and belonging is the necessary foundation for intellectual risk-taking and personal discovery.

During his decade-long tenure at the Canterbury School of Florida as Assistant Head of Middle and Upper School, Dean of Students, and teacher, Jeff served as both a steady administrative presence and a creative designer of student life. He was instrumental in building a culture of service and leadership, most notably through the creation of the LEADS program, which integrated social responsibility into the school’s core identity. He also worked to strengthen campus inclusivity by helping establish student-led organizations focused on diversity and open dialogue. In the classroom, Jeff fosters a culture of inquiry, encouraging students to engage with complex global issues through interdisciplinary projects and the arts.

Jeff’s professional perspective is deeply influenced by his background in journalism and the performing arts. As a co-founder and writer for The Cardboard Sea Theater Company, he brings a unique, collaborative spirit to his work in schools, often using creative storytelling and media to help students find their own voices. He holds an M.A. from Old Dominion University and a B.A. from Flagler College, with additional graduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Jeff is relocating to Asheville and is eager to bring his experience in holistic education to Rainbow Community School.