After a short hiatus, English teacher Bridget Donoghue unexpectedly returned to McLean for the 2024-2025 school year. Since January, she has been the school’s second technology specialist. 

“Before I became a school-based technology specialist, I used a wide array of technology in my teachings,” Donoghue said.

Donoghue previously taught English 9 Honors and AP English Language and Composition. She planned to transition from English to technology several months before leaving as a teacher. 

“Teaching English is challenging and there’s a lot of new things going on in the county,” Donoghue said. “This position offered a better balance of work and life.”

“Most of the stuff I have in my mind is helping support teachers and how to use technology effectively in their classrooms,” Donoghue said. 

Donoghue plans to expand her knowledge in the field of technology and implement this plan by enrolling in a program designed for educators. 

“I am currently in a program for my International Society for Technology in Education certification,” Donoghue said. “I am learning about instructional technology and how teachers can leverage it to engage students and encourage student success.”

Students tend to reach out to Donoghue for simple problems that can be solved immediately. 

“A lot of it is Schoology access, like forgetting passwords,” Donoghue said. “Sometimes [students] have connectivity issues.”

Although Donoghue has switched gears as a staff member, her students from previous years still fondly remember her teaching days.

“I would describe her as a dedicated teacher,” junior Adelaide Thomas said. “She put in extra effort to make sure her students could succeed.”

Many computer issues require the simplest of solutions, and Donoghue hopes that her guidance will encourage students to quickly solve their problems without needing to approach her for help. 

“Restart your laptop, clear your cache,” Donoghue said. “Those are all basic problem-solving steps that you can take before heading to the tech center.”