Mark Donavan is thrilled to be joining our Unified Arts office after 20+ years of teaching in Columbus City Schools. During his 12 years teaching at the middle school level and 9 years working at Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School, Mark served as a MS unified arts team leader, HS department chair, faculty representative, ABC chair and OTES peer-review assessment leader at both building and district level. He has written curriculum for CCS music programs, presented district professional development sessions and helped with the launch a number of CCS unified arts initiatives. 

Donavan is also an active community educator serving as the artistic director of the Columbus Jazz Arts Group’s Youth Jazz program. Mark has taught summer sessions at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Band Director Academy with Wynton Marsalis and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and presented professional development sessions through the Ohio Music Education Association, Ohio State University and Capital University. Donavan performs regularly in the central Ohio area as a saxophonist and pianist and has appeared onstage with many regional and national acts. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University and a Master of Educational Administration from Ashland University. 

Collaborative arts experiences at Fort Hayes and projects with district teachers have fed Mark's personal belief that CCS faculty and students can do astonishing things when they work together. For him, the chance to help coordinate the efforts of our dance, music, theatre and visual art programs is a dream come true.