Posts by Dr. Sonya Whitaker
Identify Your Why: It Will Keep You Going and Going Like the Energizer Battery
If you’ve been following me lately, you may be wondering “where in the world is Sonya’s energy coming from?” I wake up daily fully charged like my I-phone after being on the charger all night. I stay so charged that I do not drink caffeinated coffee because I wake up on “ten.” The waiters at…
Read MoreCalling All Educators! Let’s Bury the Use of the Term Academic Achievement Gap
On this day, I am asking that we bury the use of the term academic achievement gap, or at the very least, use it in a more appropriate context. Like many, I have engaged in the process of discussing the difference in the achievement levels between students of color (which includes students from various linguistic backgrounds) and students experiencing…
Read MoreA Response to The Article Entitled Teachers Go Public With Their Resignation Letters
Included in this blog post is a link to the article entitled, Teachers Go Public With Their Letters of Resignation. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2017/04/why_do_teachers_quit_their_res.html?cmp=eml-contshr-shr This article was written in response to the thousands of letters of resignations written by teachers that have elected to leave the education profession entirely. This topic is of interest to me in particular…
Read MoreWhat Happened to Teachers In 2018?
So, what happened to teachers in 2018? As is indicated in the article entitled, Teachers Quit Their Jobs in Record Numbers In 2018, the Wall Street Journal has reported that in 2018 teachers quit their jobs at the fastest rate on government record. Why do you believe that this has occurred? I think that we would all…
Read MoreIn the Spirit of Excellence: This Educator’s Four Lessons Learned From the Woman That Cleans the Bathroom At The Atlanta Hartsfield Airport
I’d like to wish my readers a happy holiday season. I enter this season with the spirit of thanksgiving particularly as it relates to all of the life lessons that I have learned. This week’s blog post is entitled: In the Spirit of Excellence, and is written as a result of interactions that I have had…
Read MoreThe Wrong Side of the Street
Last week I went to the dentist and while waiting in the chair, I watched a home upgrade/buying show. During the show the potential buyer said, “I love this home, I love this land, but I will not buy this house because it is on the wrong side of the street.” She added, “it’s the…
Read MoreWhat Does it Take to Improve The Academic Performance and Social/Emotional Well-Being of Diverse Student Populations?
I am so humbled to be able to serve as keynote speaker for the national conference hosted by the America Camp Association. The conference will take place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. I will deliver my keynote on February 20, 2019. In preparation for this event, and in alignment with what I…
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