Sonya Kelly
We continue our series on Connected Educators with Sarah Mercado, and Sonya Kelly, a school Principal at Western Hills Primary School in Fort Worth, TX. In this episode, Sarah and Sonya discuss how Western Hills incorporates TBRI with young students and helps to support their social/emotional wellbeing.
LISTEN HERE
Show Notes:
Linked References from this Episode:
- FWISD
- Western Hills Primary
- Go Noodle
- Dr. Casey Call
- TCU CHDV students
- The Alert Program: How Does Your Engine Run?
About our guest:
For the past seven years, Sonya Kelly has served as an elementary school administrator in Fort Worth ISD. Prior to being an administrator she worked with an assortment of grade levels as a Reading Coach and teacher. Sonya received my undergraduate degree from Prairie View A&M University, her master’s degree from University of North Texas, and her principal certification from University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, Sonya is a proud wife and mother to a charismatic son and zesty daughter and upcoming baby.
About the host:
Sarah Mercado is a Training Specialist with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD). As training specialist, Sarah’s main focus is instructing professionals working with children who have experienced trauma, in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®). TBRI®, a holistic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children, offers practical tools for caregivers to help those in their care reach their highest potential.
Sarah earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She began her career as a direct care staff working with adolescent boys living in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC). After serving in the RTC for several years, she shifted her focus to foster care, where she was Regional Director for a foster and adoption agency.
Sarah spent 20 years serving youth and families within residential and foster care settings as a direct-care worker and trainer before beginning her work with the Purvis Institute in May 2016. Sarah lives near Austin, TX with her husband, AJ, and their two children.