Donna McDaniel

Donna McDaniel is a senior education advisor for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she provides consulting support for local schools and education programs, establish a series of learning opportunities with internal and external partners, and conduct research on current education topics and strategies.

Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, McDaniel was the original leader of the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS), a nationally recognized, entrepreneurial high school program providing an industry-driven, immersive experience for students. She was the executive director of Blue Valley CAPS from 2008-2013 and Northland CAPS from 2013-2016. McDaniel was a commissioner for Hire KC Youth (appointed by Mayor Sly James), a board member of the Mid-Continent Comprehensive Center (MC3) Advisory Board (appointed by Governor Sam Brownback), and committee lead for the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. Her published works include: The Story of CAPS (2013); CAPS Bigger & Bolder: Lesson Learned Breaking the Status Quo of Education (2014); Northland CAPS: Lessons Learned Northland CAPS (2015); and That’s Using Your Thinking CAPS – Students, Business and KC Area Benefit from Skills-Prep Program (2015).

McDaniel earned a Masters of Education Policy & Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelors of Elementary & Special Education from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.