Ms. MacDonald is a history teacher and department head at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby, Ontario. She was recognized under the Premier's Awards for Teaching Excellence as an Ontario Teacher of the Year in 2008-2009.

Ms. MacDonald has worked on several fronts over the years to promote public education about Ontario archaeology, archaeology in general, and the awareness of cultural resources and heritage preservation. 

As a teacher, she has written curricula for high school and elementary school students, stressing archaeological methods and theory as well as ethical issues and the stewardship of Ontario archaeological heritage. In addition, she has developed supporting workshops for teachers.

Ms. MacDonald's students, working with licensed archaeologists, have excavated and contributed to publications about local sites, sharing this work with the general public via displays. Her teaching has inspired many students to pursue further studies in archaeology and anthropology.

Ms. MacDonald works to promote links between the archaeological and educational communities. She has presented workshops for the Canadian Archaeological Association and the Ontario History and Social Science Teachers' Association. She has served on the Public Education committee of the Society for American Archaeology and on the Public Education and Outreach Committee of the CAA. She has presented papers to the CAA, the SAA and the World Archaeological Congress.

The OAS is proud to honour Ms. Catherine MacDonald with the 2011 Peggi Armstrong Public Archaeology Award.