About 

Mr. Donnelly

Hello 5th Grade Families--

I am starting my 15th year at Carnegie Elementary with all but one year being a 5th grade teacher. Before teaching, I was a founder/managing partner of three successful deli/restaurants in the city of Pittsburgh. And before that, I was a hotel manager with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in Florida. I mention these past careers because it allows me to bring the 'real world' into my classroom especially when students ask, "Why do we need to learn this?"

I live in Mars! (PA) with my wife, Terri, and twin daughters--Ava and Olivia--who are freshmen in college this year.


ALWAYS LEARNING: Teacher Becomes Student--Mr. D. spends part of his summer breaks at professional development sessions that keep my classroom updated and engaging. 

Colonial Williamsburg

Summer 2019-Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute: The role of STEM in Colonial America. While the acronym STEM is new, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math were vital via the trades as the USA was being established pre- and post- Revolution. A perfect mash up of Science and Social Studies.


NASA Space Camp for Educators

Summer 2017-US Space and Rocket Center; Huntsville, AL

Along with 100 teachers from around the world, I experienced hands-on learning from the point of view of a 12/13 year old. The program stresses the importance of engaging students with STEM challenges that require collaboration, communication, problem-solving and F.A.I.L.ing


SET Sail STEM Educator Training--US Naval Academy

Summer 2018 Annapolis: Training focuses on the use of project-based learning in topics such as engineering design, chemistry, physics, math, robotics, programming, biology, and more.


Mr. D. in 5th Grade--I rocked that shirt!

Partnership with AmericanSTEM Vietnam

While at a 2017 teacher training at the Museum of Science in Boston, MA, I met a STEM teacher from Vietnam named Tien Luong (pictured on left). I was so impressed at what he'd done at such a young age that I suggested a collaboration project with our students. That project extended over several months in the 2017-18 school year and ended up being a cultural exchange as much as a STEM education exchange between my class and his. With live video chats and online communication between the students, Carnegie 5th graders interacted and learned with students literally on the other side of the world. They realized that even though we looked and sounded different, we are all learners in the same world--and can collaborate in a global setting. (We also realized The Floss dance was world-wide) This led to my hashtag #LearningHasNoBorders. 


The founder/director of AmericanSTEM Vietnam, Dr. Hung Le, liked what he saw in our project and invited me to come to Hanoi to share my STEM teaching philosophy and work with his students and teachers. So, in June 2018, I arrived in Vietnam and experienced a fascinating culture and ended up learning just as much, if not more, than what I was teaching. An experience I will never forget--and I have maintained several relationships from my "STEM Education Exchange" in Hanoi, Vietnam. Enjoy the photos below.


Teacher AirCamp-Dayton

Flying a single prop plane for 35 minutes was only one highlight from this Summer 2021 professional development opportunity in Dayton, OH--home of the Wright Brothers and their first mechanical flight! Over 30 other teachers from around the US joined me in learning Physics of Flight, the future of aerospace and flight, as well as visiting the birthplace of flight.  Our lessons on drones and coding were so engaging that I purchased 6 drones for my classroom and students to experience in the Spring. 

STEM Educators Program at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA

Set In Stone Educator Program at the Ford's Theater--Learning Civil War History Through Monuments--Washington DC