Sonia Wilson
Newbury Park,CA
Summary
Executive Director of Secondary Education who fosters the development of a team of principals, sepcialists, educators, and support staff. Strong knowledge of change leadership practices and the implementation of both elementary and secondary curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student support services. Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, bringing multiple perspectives together to share in a diversity of ideas and engage in collective problem-solving. Guided by the unwavering belief in providing access to a high-quality education for all students.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director of Secondary
Santa Barbara Unified School District
Santa Barbara
09.2023 - Current
- Provide leadership development, coaching, and support for team of secondary principals and assistant principals/deans.
- Participate on Executive Cabinet, engaging in district level discussions and decision-making, planning and preparation for board meetings, and the development of districtwide communications.
- Oversee a team of English, Math, Science, Social Science, and Ethnic Studies Instructional Support Specialists to coordinate curriculum adoptions, assessments, learning walks, professional learning, and District PLC implementation.
- Co-coordinate the development of the District MTSS system, including planning for professional learning, the creation of a district wide MTSS Handbook, and building Tier 2 interventions in literacy and math.
Director of Middle School Education
Conejo Valley Unified School District
Thousand Oaks, CA
07.2021 - 08.2023
- Provided leadership coaching and support to middle school principals, promoting their continual development as leaders of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Orchestrated the implementation of the middle school social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and facilitated the Secondary SEL Task Force to support in the development of a multi-year action plan.
- Coordinated professional learning for district and grade span initiatives, including Universal Design for Learning, culturally responsive teaching, co-teaching, English Language Development, and Hatching Results.
- Facilitated the development of a comprehensive plan for district inclusion, emphasizing the expansion of co-teaching opportunities across targeted grade spans and subject areas and the creation of a districtwide co-teaching handbook.
- Served as the district Federal Program Monitoring Coordinator, providing oversight to district administration with the interpretation of program instruments and evidence collection.
Director of Elementary Education
Conejo Valley Unified School District
Thousand Oaks, CA
07.2018 - 06.2021
- Provided leadership coaching and support to elementary principals, promoting their continual development as instructional leaders and supporting in their implementation of district curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
- Strengthened the coordination of social-emotional supports provided by our team of elementary counselors, including the development and implementation of a district-wide social-emotional learning curriculum offered to all elementary students, TK-5, through a virtual platform.
- Supervised the District's English Learner Services Department, supporting the implementation of district professional learning and assessments, DELAC, and parent family engagement.
- Oversaw the District's Title 1 Program, coordinating the budget, instructional programs, professional development, and social worker support.
- Spearheaded elementary curriculum, instruction, and assessment initiatives, including a TK-5 English Language Arts/English Language Development adoption.
Principal, Wilson Middle School
Exeter Unified School District
Exeter, CA
07.2013 - 06.2018
- Redesigned the school-wide behavior management system through the coordinated efforts of student support services and the implementation of the Time to Teach behavior management program.
- Implemented BCII (Building Coherence for Instructional Improvement), a process for developing coherence through shared leadership practices and organizational structures in order to enhance instructional practices and improve student achievement.
- Supported in the development of high performing PLC's and the multi-department effort to create short cycle assessments and the collaboratively score student work.
- Spearheaded the SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) Academy in English Language Arts/Social Studies, a model for self-directed learning based on Sigata Mitra's principles of self- discovery and inquiry learning.
Learning Director
Lindsay Unified School District
Lindsay, CA
07.2006 - 06.2013
Academic Coach, Wilson Middle School
Exeter Unified School District
Exeter, CA
08.2003 - 06.2006
Middle School English/Language Arts Teacher
Lindsay Unified & Exeter Unified
Lindsay & Exeter, CA
07.1995 - 06.2003
Education
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
Fresno State University
Fresno, CA05.2021
Visalia
ACSA Academy
Curriculum and Instructional Leaders2009
Master of Arts - Reading/Language Arts
Fresno Pacific University
12.2005
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
Fresno State
05.1995
CALSA Member
Skills
- Adept in coaching and mentoring site and district administrators, building their capacity to lead organizational change
- Effective in the art of communication, honoring diverse viewpoints and perspectives, while building systems of internal and external accountability
- Skilled at building shared visions, action plans, and cohesive systems for committees, initiatives, and organizations
- Experienced in developing and enhancing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in order to provide academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning support to students
Timeline
Executive Director of Secondary
Santa Barbara Unified School District
09.2023 - Current
Director of Middle School Education
Conejo Valley Unified School District
07.2021 - 08.2023
Director of Elementary Education
Conejo Valley Unified School District
07.2018 - 06.2021
Principal, Wilson Middle School
Exeter Unified School District
07.2013 - 06.2018
Learning Director
Lindsay Unified School District
07.2006 - 06.2013
Academic Coach, Wilson Middle School
Exeter Unified School District
08.2003 - 06.2006
Middle School English/Language Arts Teacher
Lindsay Unified & Exeter Unified
07.1995 - 06.2003
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
Fresno State University
Visalia
ACSA Academy
Master of Arts - Reading/Language Arts
Fresno Pacific University
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
Fresno State
CALSA Member
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