Higher Learning

SONYA OATES, Pender County’s new director of elementary education, is passionate about empowering school leaders and educators, and she’s embracing her new role as a great way to do what she loves.

“I’m elated to be in this role because I feel that I can make a greater difference being able to support principals and instructional leaders and help create the best learning environment for our students,” says Oates, who assumed the role in January. “I want to be a part of helping people reach their goals to make sure our district progresses. That’s what motivates me every day because if we invest in our educators that’s how we make sure every child has that foundation they need, academically and personally.” 

As director, Oates will oversee and support all elementary schools, principals, staff, and students in Pender County, working closely with the school district’s chief academic officer, principals, teachers, and staff. 

“One priority is to continue to address the achievement gaps, to ensure all schools have what they need to make sure they can meet the needs of every single child every day, whether it’s high-quality instruction, resources, and interventions support because it’s important that we focus on early literacy,” she says. “Students have to have the foundational skills to be able to read and write in the early grades, coming in as early as pre-K.”

Previously, Oates served as principal of Cape Fear Elementary School in Rocky Point and was named Principal of the Year for the 2023-24 school year. She says her goals have included “empowering educators and leaders, driving student achievement and instructional excellence, focusing on positive culture, strengthening community engagement with our parents, and always ensuring that we are continuing to grow and creating a body of leaders who have innovation to be able to motivate our kids.”

In her career in education of over twenty years, Oates, who grew up in Castle Hayne, has also served as an assistant principal, teacher, and teacher assistant, working at both elementary- and middle-school levels.

Becoming a teacher or principal was not in Oates’ initial plan after leaving North Carolina Central University with a B.S. in sports medicine. However, unable to immediately find a job in her field, she obtained a teacher assistant position at Pine Valley Elementary.

It wasn’t long before Oates and others recognized working in education was where she was meant to be.

Oates, whose mother is a retired teacher, had pretended to be a teacher while playing as a child and later taught Sunday school.

“I knew in my heart that I should be a teacher so when other people began to keep saying you need to be a teacher, I kind of knew the writing was on the wall,” she says. 

Oates earned her teacher licensure and B.A. in elementary education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, landed a teaching position, and eventually decided to pursue school administration.

“I’ve always had a drive for coaching teachers in different teaching strategies, teaming, and collaboration,” she says. “I wanted to reach teachers, teacher leaders, and collaborate with coaches on another level to be able to drive school improvement.”

While teaching, Oates, who is also a wife and mother of three children, earned a master’s degree in executive leadership from Gardner-Webb University and a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership at High Point University.

In her journey from teacher assistant to director, Oates said there were challenging times in which she felt discouraged, but she kept being persistent and says she’s proud she stayed the course. “I worked the entire time that I received my degrees; I want people to understand that they can do it,” she says. “It takes a lot of work, but if you want to do something you can really do it.”

Looking ahead, Oates said the growth in Pender County is an opportunity for Pender’s schools. 

“It’s an opportunity for us to make sure we have the right resources, tap into more staff, create new spaces, expand our programs, and enhance the new initiatives we already have,” she says. “Growth does mean change, but it also creates an opportunity to make our schools even better for our students and families.”

Oates said she’s also excited about the new K-8 school being built in Hampstead because students will be able to stay in one school until eighth grade.

“That helps us,” she says, “to build relationships with families and teachers and create a sense of community.”

To view more of photographer Daria Amato’s work, go to dariaphoto.com

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