Keller McDonald was raised in Petaluma and graduated Petaluma High School in 1970. His first childhood involvement in live production was as an extra in the Petaluma Centennial Pageant in 1958. He was a lighting technician for school and community productions in high school. He has an interest in vocal music and has performed with various college and community vocal groups.

Keller earned a bachelor’s degree at UC Davis, elementary and secondary grade teaching credentials at Dominican College, and a master’s degree at Sacramento State College. He has been a teacher, athletic coach, and principal at elementary school, middle school and high school levels. He returned to Sonoma County in 2005 and currently serves as superintendent of the West Sonoma County Union High School District. Keller is a member of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol and Past President of the Rotary Clubs of Middletown and Willits.

Keller and his wife, Marcia, have pursued their professional careers in eastern Kentucky, Lake County, Mendocino County, and now Sonoma County. Marcia McDonald is a Family Nurse Practitioner. As principal of Willits High School, Keller helped organize countywide instrumental and vocal music festivals, art shows and poetry events for high schools across Mendocino County. He was instrumental in creating a partnership between Willits High School, Mendocino Community College and the Willits Community Theater that brought folks of all ages together for musical theater productions. Marcia McDonald was a founding leader of the Willits Young Actors Theatre. She produced children’s performances over a ten-year period that involved hundreds of young people in stage productions.

The McDonalds have three grown children living in San Diego, Monterey, and New Haven, Connecticut; all of whom have performed in a variety of community productions.