Administration
vanessa donahue, principal
Mrs. Donahue has been in education for sixteen years, all in the Santa Paula Unified School District. She began her teaching career as an ELD intervention teacher for newcomers. She spent most of her teaching career at Barbara Webster Elementary School, teaching third grade and special education as a resource specialist. Her administrative career began by serving as Assistant Principal at Glen City Elementary School for two years. This school year is Mrs. Donahue's fifth year as Principal of Blanchard School.
Mrs. Donahue earned a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies and her multiple subject teaching credential from California State University Northridge. She also has a master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction and an education specialist credential from California Lutheran University. In addition, she has a master's degree in Educational Leadership and an administrative credential from Azusa Pacific University. Currently, Mrs. Donahue is working on a Ph.D. in Education Law from Liberty University.
Mrs. Donahue is a first-generation Mexican American whose first language was Spanish. Growing up, she always knew she wanted to teach students who shared her similar background and encourage students to work towards their dreams. While Mrs. Donahue did not grow up in Santa Paula, she feels connected to this school district and the community. She is passionate about English Language Development, Special Education, and making meaningful connections with her students.
During her free time, Mrs. Donahue enjoys spending time with her husband, who also teaches in SPUSD, her two daughters, and her pets. In addition, she enjoys spending time with friends, attending Dodgers games, and is a loyal fan of the Green Bay Packers.