Sonya Taylor
HARRIETT BALL EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING - KIPP St. Louis Public Schools
Sonya Taylor of KIPP Wisdom Academy in St. Louis, MO is the recipient of the 2024 Harriett Ball Excellence in Teaching Award. This award recognizes outstanding teachers from the KIPP network. The winning teachers, nominated by their school leaders, were recognized for their leadership and dedication to improving outcomes for students.
You can hear Ms. Taylor’s class from the front office because she is the most energized. With five years as a Kindergarten Lead Teacher and Grade Level Chair, Ms. Taylor has made a profound impact on her students' academic trajectories. She ensures all her students are engaged all the time, leading to the highest growth in reading and math among kindergarten classes in the St. Louis region. For the past two years, her students’ progress in literacy has been significant: last year, no students read on grade level; by year’s end, 68% were on grade level. This year, 9% of her students were initially on grade level in ELA, now 73% are. In math, no students were on grade level at the start, now 45% are.
Ms. Taylor reminds us that this work is joyful and a gift, helping us see our highest selves.