Staff Spotlight: Kaila McDonald

This month, we are proud to spotlight Kaila McDonald, the talented and compassionate Speech-Language Pathologist serving students at Norman G. Ambrosini Elementary School and Toddy Thomas Middle School. Since 2017, Kaila has been making a difference in the lives of students across our district, and her dedication shines through in everything she does.

Kaila’s principal, Angela Schuetzle, shares:
“Kaila has a positive and friendly attitude, focuses on the individual needs of her students, makes learning fun and engaging, and builds confidence in her students.”

Kaila began her journey with Fortuna Elementary School District shortly after graduate school and says it was the “warm and welcoming staff at Ambrosini” that drew her in. Over the past eight years, she’s provided speech and language services for preschool through 8th grade and now works primarily with preschool through 6th-grade students.

What Kaila loves most about her work is watching her students grow in their skills and confidence:

“Depending on the student and the goal, it can take some time to train their brain to learn a new skill. But when they finally get it—and I can see how proud they are of themselves—it can bring tears to my eyes.”

Outside of school, Kaila is just as driven. She played collegiate basketball and found a love for running after her playing days were over. She’s set a personal goal to run a half marathon in every state, and she’s already completed races in 11 states! After taking a short break to welcome her baby last May, Kaila is planning her next race this summer in Illinois.

Kaila’s energy, kindness, and commitment to her students have made her a treasured part of both the Ambrosini and Toddy Thomas school communities. We are so grateful to have her on our team and cheering on students—both in the classroom and beyond! 💛