Shaniqua Sonnee

• Collaborated with K-12 school leaders to establish a shared mission and core values, emphasizing student success and well-being.
• Mentored and supported educators, nurturing a professional community dedicated to collaboration, teaching excellence, and ongoing improvement.
• Spearheaded faculty development initiatives to align with inclusive and engaging educational practices, enhancing teaching quality.
• Effectively managed operational responsibilities, ensuring optimal resource allocation for student and faculty achievement.
• Implemented culturally responsive strategies, and organized community events to strengthen family involvement, and promote a culture of equity and respect.

• Spearheaded the strategic management of over 50 enrichment programs, engaging more than 200 students, and collaborating with 25 staff members and 15 community partners, aligning with school standards and values.
• Streamlined enrollment and financial aid processes, managing a self-sustaining six-figure budget to ensure program accessibility and sustainability, while supporting a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Developed and implemented student-centered curricula, enhancing educational experiences, and providing faculty support to deliver engaging, effective teaching in a 21st-century learning environment.
• Cultivated strong connections with families and local organizations, organizing events, and fostering partnerships to boost engagement and support within the school community.
• Led comprehensive communication efforts, maintained the program website, refined registration systems, and created compelling newsletter content to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.

• Developed and executed a developmentally suitable curriculum that encompasses core learning areas for pre-kindergarten students, ensuring a holistic educational experience.
• Facilitated learning in Literacy, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and Social-Emotional Development, aligning with NYS Common Core objectives to lay a strong educational foundation.
• Employed positive reinforcement techniques to cultivate desirable behaviors and implemented a restorative approach to conflict resolution, promoting a harmonious classroom environment.
• Strengthened community ties through active collaboration with parents, establishing robust support networks and enhancing parent-teacher rapport for improved student outcomes.
• Generated and distributed comprehensive quarterly progress assessments and milestone reports, facilitating transparent communication during parent-teacher conferences and tracking student advancement effectively.

• Collaborated closely with the executive educational director and other leadership team members to devise and support strategic initiatives in program and curriculum development, enhance summer enrichment logistics, oversee budget management, and refine staff development and onboarding processes.
• Actively mentored teachers, enhancing classroom teaching practices and assessment methodologies through comprehensive classroom observations, constructive feedback, and targeted training sessions.
• Spearheaded the preparation of teachers and classroom environments to align with ECERS-3 and CLASS program assessment standards, ensuring top-tier educational quality and compliance.
• Orchestrated and managed the logistics for a wide range of community engagement and organizational events, including the effective recruitment of volunteers and interns, to foster a vibrant and inclusive educational community.
• Forged and nurtured strategic partnerships with the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program and local recreational centers, significantly bolstering the scope and impact of Summer camp programs through collaborative efforts and resource sharing.

• Successfully implemented developmentally appropriate, individualized lessons by integrating the Creative Curriculum, NYC UPK Units of Study, NYC 3K Explorations, and NYS Common Core standards.
• Innovated a play-based, hands-on learning environment, enhancing student engagement and promoting receptive learning through the organization of thematic and cultural-related classroom events or celebrations.
• Fostered a collaborative partnership with families and community members, aiming to create a nurturing educational atmosphere conducive to learning and tailored to meet students' individual needs.
• Garnered extensive experience teaching at early childhood centers, catering to a diverse age group of children from 6 months to 5 years old, adhering to OCFS licensing and NYC DOE funding guidelines.

NYS School Building Leader Certification

Expected in December 2025

Minor: Early Childhood Education. Organizations: Psychology Club; Malave Leadership Academy; Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology; Lehman Center for Student Leadership Development; Lehman College Mentor Collective

Minor: Teacher Education. Organizations: Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Student Leadership Academy. Awards: Global Awareness Award (Humanities Department), Student Leadership Award.