Patrick O’Donnell served in education for thirty-six years, nineteen as an administrator. He was hired as Superintendent of Schools for the Sioux Center Community Schools in July of 2002. Prior to his position in the Sioux Center Community Schools Patrick served as Principal in the Humboldt Community Schools, Associate Principal in the Mason City Schools, and Principal in the Interstate 35 School District. Patrick received his Certificate of Advanced Studies in May 2002 from Iowa State University, where he also received his Master of Education in 1995 and his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1982. Patrick has taught at St. Anthony’s School in Des Moines and in the Earlham Community School District.
As the Superintendent of the Sioux Center Community Schools, Patrick and his administrative team have facilitated and led the district in the Lighthouse Project. The Sioux Center Community Schools, in partnership with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), was a model for the project in which the effect of school boards on student achievement is studied. The Lighthouse Project focuses on Leadership Development, Vision Development, and Action Research. The Sioux Center Schools are a leader in the implementation of Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) in northwest Iowa and have recently been awarded a grant to promote Redesigned STEM Learning Environments by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Patrick is a member of Advisory Council Educational Leadership for the Masters Degree Program at Dordt College. Patrick is a Project Power Up Administrator, a Secondary Language Acquisition Group which provides leadership learning opportunities to improve the language acquisition of the growing English Language Learner population. Patrick is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) and SAI.
Locally Patrick has been a member of the Sioux Center Kiwanis Club, the Sioux Center Joint Use Committee (partnership between the City of Sioux Center, Dordt College, and the Sioux Center Community Schools for the betterment of the Community of Sioux Center), and the City of Sioux Center Arts and Recreation Board. He has participated in two mission trips to Valencia, Venezuela to work with inner city youth.
Patrick, and his wife Nancy, have four children, Matthew, JonTaé Miller, B.J., and Andrew.