Sonya Welch
LAKE PARK,FL
Summary
Energetic, charismatic, and dependable instructional leader with 20 years of experience delivering educational assistance to various levels of learners, as well as mentoring and supporting educators with various levels of experience. Committed to providing students and educators with necessary tools to achieve academic goals, instilling a love of learning, and engagement through infusing curriculum with technology. Lead the English language arts department with integrity and courage, setting an example for others, training the department and staff on new educational technology applications, as well as one-on-one training on the online textbooks. Encourage those around me, inspiring them to reach their full potential and confidence in using innovative strategies. Possess exceptional organizational and communication skills. Patient, flexible, and resilient. Dedicated to staff, students, and the field of education. Promote employee motivation and keep department operation aligned with goals by utilizing a proactive management style. Encouraging with employees and students and diplomatic in mediating conflicts to enhance satisfaction and team collaboration. Excellent relationship-builder with good communication, time management and multitasking skills that focus on boosting educational success.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Literacy Coach
School District Of Palm Beach County
11.2023 - Current
- Enhance student literacy by implementing targeted reading strategies and interventions.
- Collaborate with teachers to develop individualized literacy plans for struggling students, resulting in improved reading levels.
- Analyze student assessment data, providing insights for tailored instruction and support.
- Train educators on best practices in literacy instruction, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
English Language Arts Department Head
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2015 - Current
- Facilitate curriculum development within the department for each grade level, ESOL, and ESE
- Assist department on effectively using data to guide curriculum and instruction
- Provide effective leadership and direction to department and staff, resulting in student achievement by 15% growth and 37% proficiency
- Introduce new innovative and engaging instructional methods aligned to the state standards to increase student achievement
- Train department of 17 staff members on effective teaching practices to tailor instruction to meet the needs of our diverse school population
- Coordinate curriculum development utilizing electronic textbook and BEST state standards to increase explicit and differentiated instruction
- Demonstrate how to unpack state standards and implement ELA curriculum framework utilizing educational technology resources
- Schedule meetings and training sessions with 17 staff members and other stakeholders
- Build close relationships with staff and organize team-building events that take everyone's needs into consideration
- Analyze and track student data from district and state assessments to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses
- Motivate and support department to consistently deliver effective, innovative instruction through coaching and modeling
- Support department as they acquire new skills
Middle School Course Recovery Coordinator
School District Of Palm Beach County
09.2015 - Current
- Hire and train certified teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification
- Implement School Board policies, plan and deliver curriculum in required content areas
- Assess students continually to see if educational goals are being met
- Facilitate online learning modules, activities, assignments, assessments, and materials that follow curriculum guidelines for over 50 students
- Provide timely feedback on summative and formative assessments to allow students to improve skills necessary for success
- Meet with students outside of classroom instruction time in order to provide extra instruction as needed
- Collaborate and communicate with colleagues, students, and families to determine best practices and strategies for improving student achievement
- Regularly report student progress and complete other record- keeping duties such as submitting grade changes
- Establish positive, stimulating learning environment for students and exciting education-focused setting for teachers, and implemented intervention strategies to support student success
- Manage and collaborate with administration staff to develop functional budgets within allocated funds for MSCR program
- Create time schedules, and sign time sheets for teachers
Professional Development Lead/Team Member
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2014 - Current
- Coordinate professional development training for faculty and staff
- Implement curriculum that could be utilized cross curricular
- Assist faculty and staff on effectively using data to guide curriculum and instruction
- Analyze student data school wide and implement specified trainings that focused on student weaknesses
- Organize schedules and agendas for professional development training days
- Lead trainings on innovative curriculum
- Created school wide goals to align instruction with school improvement plan
- Responsible for collecting and reporting professional development points for faculty and staff
- Assist teachers in each subject area with providing evidence of the implementation of curriculum and activities from PDD trainings
- Meet with professional development team to coordinate training schedule for professional development days
Learning Team Facilitator
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2013 - 08.2014
- Supported school site with the alignment and implementation of school improvement plan
- Assisted faculty and staff on effectively using data to guide curriculum and instruction
- Provided coaching and mentoring to employees of diverse levels and backgrounds
- Met with and trained close to 75 personnel in various subject areas on cross curricular curriculum
- Analyzed student data and standards for areas of strengths and weaknesses
- Evaluated curriculum to increase the rigor and innovativeness to promote student achievement
English Language Arts Teacher
School District Of Palm Beach County
09.2003 - Current
- Create and teach curriculum encompassing skill-building activities in speaking, writing, reading and listening
- Tailor curriculum and instructions to meet the needs of diverse learners
- Create innovative and engaging curriculum infused with technology to retain student interest and maximized receptive learning through use of interactive and project based learning
- Increase student achievement on state standardized test to 37% pass rate
- Assess students' learning progress, analyze, track student data, and provide feedback to students on progress and assigned grades based on performance from district and state assessments
- Utilize various teaching methods including utilizing technology to ensure differentiated learning
- Unpack standards and curriculum in English language arts requirements with students and staff
- Organize classroom lectures and coursework into modules accessed via Google Classroom
- Provide students with encouragement and foster positive climate by giving incentives (gift cards, game day, snacks, certificates, etc.)
- Identify students with special requirements and create differentiated instruction to meet needs of diverse learners resulting in 15% increase growth on state assessment
- Devise, implement, and enforce classroom management strategies through use of technology to maintain a safe and pleasant, engaging learning environment
- Build positive relationships with parents to involve families in educational process to boost support
- Collaborate with administrators and colleagues on classroom policies, management strategies, discipline, and technology usage school wide
School Advisory Council Chair
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2018 - 06.2019
- Facilitated meetings and notified members of upcoming meetings and votes
- Informed SAC members of relevant issues related to school
- Ensured quorum is present before action item on agenda comes to a vote
- Filled role as SAC secretary- ensured minutes were recorded and filed promptly
- Created SAC agenda
- Worked closely with principal and principal's confidential secretary to create items on agenda
National Junior Honor Society Adviser
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2015 - 08.2020
- Ensured selection of induction of members, and made sure members understood and followed guidelines of NJHSDeveloped and supervised program schedule and outline of activities
- Determined role of NJHS's officers and conducted election of officers
- Scheduled and supervised NJHS meetings and service activities
- Provided for safety of members, facilities and equipment while conducting all NJHS activities
- Organized, supervised, and conducted fund- raising as required to support NJHS activities
- Maintained financial files and records of expenses and fund raisers
- Maintained positive relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and administration
- Regularly met with enrolled students to confirm success and identify problem areas
- Gathered necessary paperwork and applications for students to initiate enrollment process
- Analyzed student academic records to assess educational goals, and used data to monitor students' progress and recommend solutions for improvement to drive successful academic outcomes
- Helped students develop organizational, time management and study skills
- Collaborated with parents, students, and teachers to help students reach potential
Education
Doctor of Education - Instructional Leadership
Nova Southeastern University
Davie, FL11.2023
Master of Education - Educational Leadership
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL05.2003
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL01.1996
Skills
- Google Applications (Docs, Slides, Spreadsheets, Google Meet, and Google Classroom)
- Microsoft Office Software (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel)
- Classroom management software and systems (SIS, Grade Quick)
- Databases (EDW, Unify, Performance Matters)
- Instructional Strategies Websites (Common Lit, News ELA, Animoto, Prezi, Sutori, Upfront, Flip, Pear Deck, Jam Board, Quizziz, Lumio, and No Red Ink)
- Video conferencing
- Staff Training and Development
- Electronic presentations
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Spreadsheet creation and management
- Organizational Strengths
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Excellent Communication
- Multitasking Abilities
Certification
- Educational Leadership Certification {K-12}
- English Language Arts Certification
- Google Certification
- Clinical Education Certification
- Ethics Certification
Timeline
Literacy Coach
School District Of Palm Beach County
11.2023 - Current
School Advisory Council Chair
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2018 - 06.2019
Middle School Course Recovery Coordinator
School District Of Palm Beach County
09.2015 - Current
English Language Arts Department Head
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2015 - Current
National Junior Honor Society Adviser
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2015 - 08.2020
Professional Development Lead/Team Member
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2014 - Current
Learning Team Facilitator
School District Of Palm Beach County
08.2013 - 08.2014
English Language Arts Teacher
School District Of Palm Beach County
09.2003 - Current
Doctor of Education - Instructional Leadership
Nova Southeastern University
Master of Education - Educational Leadership
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
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