Jamie McGonnigal is a public school parent, PTA president, nonprofit leader, performer, and lifelong community advocate running for the Prince George’s County Board of Education because he knows firsthand how deeply schools shape a child’s life.

Jamie was raised by a single mom in Massachusetts and experienced housing instability, food banks, and public assistance.

When he was 12, he was eating cereal and watching Saturday morning cartoons when he noticed strangers looking through his family’s living room windows. Their home was being foreclosed on.

School was the place that stayed steady. The arts especially gave him confidence and a sense of belonging when life felt uncertain. By seventh grade, he was already speaking at public meetings to defend arts programs and support teachers.

That was the beginning of his advocacy work.

A 1993 newspaper titled "Marshfield Reporter" with a headline "Snapshot." The article features Jamie McGonnigal, describing his dreams and memories, and includes a black-and-white photo of a smiling boy.
Jamie's kid photo with curly blonde hair and a missing front tooth, smiling, wearing a striped beige and red long sleeve shirt, against a blue gradient background.
Group of six men standing outdoors near backpacks or duffel bags with trees and a fence in the background.

That instinct to step forward has followed him throughout his life. In 2007, his work brought him to Namibia and South Africa where he led the United Nations Association HERO Campaign, working with young people on global health and leadership. And from 2005-2008, he served on the board of the Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation and as camp director for Camp TLC, a summer camp for inner city teens living with HIV and AIDS.

Those experiences shaped his belief that young people need safe spaces, strong mentorship, and adults who see their full potential.

Storytelling has always been a big part of how he connects with people.

Through his work with the New Organizing Institute and KNP Communications, he has helped advocates, candidates, and nonprofit leaders learn how to tell their own stories in ways that inspire people and drive meaningful change.

Jamie has also spent more than 25 years as a professional voice actor, working on shows like Pokémon, One Piece and Winx Club. He has produced more than 150 Broadway concerts and live events, raising funds and building community through the arts.

A picture of Jamie in glasses, a dark suit, and a red shirt standing behind a wooden podium, smiling at a microphone, with a colorful projection in the background.
Collage of characters from the Pokémon animated series, including trainers and Pokémon, with a prominent Pokémon logo in the center.
A man with a beard wearing red glasses and a black shirt taking a selfie in a recording studio. He is smiling and wearing white headphones. Behind him are soundproof walls, a laptop displaying a webpage with cartoon characters, a music monitor, a microphone with a pop filter, and a tablet showing an email inbox.
Jamie speaking into a microphone while holding papers, surrounded by women and girls at an indoor event.
Jamie and Sean with their friend Tom at a marriage equality canvas; one holding a large sign that reads 'vote yes on question 6 for marriage equality & fairness,' and the man on the right holding a booklet. All are smiling.
Jamie showing a children's book about penguins to a group of children in a classroom.

He even once received a call from Santa Claus asking for help stepping in during a Kennedy Center performance. For the past four years, Jamie has served as Santa’s stand in for National Symphony Orchestra holiday concerts, helping create magical moments for thousands of families.

Jamie filling in for Santa Clause and conducting the National Symphony Orchestra. Turns out he can floss, too.

Jamie is accepting an award for Volunteer of the Year with Rainbow families. He's wearing a blue jacket and speaking at a podium with a rainbow flag in a school gym.
People participating in a Pride parade, holding rainbow flags and signs that say 'Take Back Pride.' One person wears a red shirt with 'Legalize Love' and is speaking into a megaphone.
Three men smiling at a gathering or protest, with signs and a crowd in the background. One man has his arm around another, and all appear happy. The signs include a photo of a woman and a message about being a military family.
Jamie, Sean, and Civil Rights Icon Hon. John Lewis, two in beige suits and one in a black suit, posing for a photo in a room with floral curtains and large windows.

Jamie and his husband Sean have long been advocates for equality, helping lead rallies outside the Supreme Court during the fight for marriage equality.

He was recently named Volunteer of the Year by Rainbow Families for supporting LGBTQ families and building inclusive community spaces.

Today, Jamie brings that same hands on, community first approach to his role as President of the Hyattsville Elementary School PTA. He has worked closely with families and educators through school relocation, transportation issues, staffing shortages, and after school care challenges, always focused on making sure families and teachers are heard and supported.

He has also served on the leadership team for the Zombie Run, helping coordinate partnerships and prize sponsorships that have helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for more than a dozen local schools.

    • Elected PTA President, leading fundraising, engagement, and advocacy efforts

    • Partnered with school leadership to approve and fund every request for classroom and student support

    • Led and supported teacher and staff appreciation efforts, including Welcome Breakfasts, monthly Fun Food Friday snack carts, and themed Teacher Appreciation Week

    • Worked with Board Member Pamela Boozer-Strother to build PGCPS school curriculum for Pride Month

    • Coordinated family support initiatives such as Thanksgiving baskets and holiday Sponsor-a-Student gifts

    • Led communications and outreach, including enrollment efforts and family communications

  • Helped organize and support major community events, including:

    • Back to School events and Pre-K and Kindergarten family meetups

    • First-ever Pumpkin Festival and Winter Market, raising more than $200,000 in donated goods and giving students the chance to pick out gifts for their families with dignity and joy

    • First-ever Pride Festival event in Prince George’s County Public Schools history

    • Black History Month Dance Party and Movie Night

    • Hispanic Heritage Month Movie Night

    • Ice Skating Party, Game Night, and Movie Nights

    • Member of the leadership team for the annual Hyattsville Elementary Zombie Run

    • Led prize sponsorships and community partnerships for the event

    • Solicited and raised more than $400,000 worth of prizes over three years

    • Built collaboration with neighboring PTOs and PTAs to help schools raise funds efficiently and equitably

Jamie sitting on a curb and handing a medal to a young boy at an outdoor event. In the background, there is a tent, a stop sign, and several people.

Jamie lives in Prince George’s County with his husband Sean and their child, who attends public school in District 3. He’s running for the Board of Education because he believes every child deserves not just a seat in a classroom, but a school where they feel safe, supported, challenged, and truly seen.

Group of people taking a selfie in front of a Prince George's County, Maryland election board sign. One person is holding a yellow envelope, and a girl in a purple coat with a fur-lined hood is smiling in the center.