Announcing the New Laurel Dell Principal, Katie O'Donnell!

Posted Date: 4/22/25 (1:22 AM)

Dear Laurel Dell School Community,

I am pleased to announce that at their meeting this evening, the San Rafael City Schools Board of Education approved Katie O’Donnell as the new Laurel Dell Elementary School Principal for the upcoming 2025-26 school year!

During the selection process, Ms. O’Donnell rose to the top as a champion for all students with an unwavering commitment to their growth and success. She leads with a collaborative spirit to ensure that all students and staff thrive in supportive and dynamic learning environments. I am confident that she has the skills and qualities to further enrich the school community and ensure academic excellence in partnership with teachers, staff and families.

We are fortunate that Ms. O’Donnell is already well-known and familiar with the Laurel Dell community. She has been a proud teacher at the school for four years, and she affectionately refers to Laurel Dell as her second home. She has built positive relationships with students, families and staff, and has been committed to fostering an environment where all feel valued, supported and inspired to succeed. She will officially assume the role of Laurel Dell principal on July 1, 2025.

I would like to share some of Ms. O’Donnell’s own words about why she’s looking forward to this opportunity:

I’m incredibly honored and excited to be named Laurel Dell’s new principal. This school is more than just a place of learning— it’s a strong, vibrant community. I feel fortunate to work alongside such a dedicated staff and supportive families, and I’m looking forward to building on the relationships that make Laurel Dell so special. Together, I know we can continue to create a school environment where every student thrives.

Ms. O’Donnell’s experience expands her time at Laurel Dell - she has been an educator within SRCS for over 20 years and has served in various leadership roles such as instructional coach; mentor teacher; teacher in charge; and president of the teacher union. She has honed her skills and shared her valuable perspective through many District committees and initiatives, including our teacher evaluation system, equity work, curriculum reviews and more.

Throughout her time at Laurel Dell and SRCS, Ms. O’Donnell has gained the insight and experience that allows her to understand our students’ needs and how to make an impact in their achievement and engagement. She is known for her strong organizational skills, systems-oriented approach, excellent instructional practices, thoughtful collaboration skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

I strongly believe that Ms. O’Donnell’s deep understanding of the Laurel Dell community, combined with her strong instructional experience and immense passion for students, make her the ideal leader for Laurel Dell. Please join me in congratulating her!

Sincerely,

Carmen Diaz Ghysels
Superintendent

San Rafael City Schools

www.srcs.org | communications@srcs.org

310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490