Jessica S. Donovan joined Chadwick School in 2023 as Chadwick’s 14th Head of School since it was founded in 1935 by Margaret Lee Chadwick.

Donovan last served as Head of School at Sheridan School, an independent school in Washington, D.C. Donovan has spent more than 25 years working in schools as a teacher and school leader, including roles as Division Director, Assistant Head of School and Head of School. Her work at Sheridan included implementing data-driven curriculum overhauls; leading renovations at both the city and mountain campuses; building a culture of philanthropy; increasing the diversity of faculty, staff and families; and overseeing the strategic plan, while ensuring that all community members have a sense of belonging. 

Donovan sits on the board of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, where she chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the board of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, where she is the commissioner for accreditation. Donovan has presented at various conferences on integrated project-based learning, mindfulness, curriculum design and differentiation, and hiring and retaining diverse faculty. She serves as a leadership mentor for underrepresented leaders in independent schools. Donovan earned her B.A. in English and American Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her M.A. in Independent School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University.