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Sonya Hooks is a seasoned education leader, equity champion, and mentor with more than two decades of progressive leadership experience in New York City’s public education system. She currently serves as Chief of Capacity Building and Family Engagement for the Division of Early Childhood at the NYC Department of Education, where she leads systemwide strategies to strengthen family partnerships, build educator capacity, and advance equity in early learning.
Throughout her career, Sonya has designed and scaled initiatives that center children, families, and communities—driving improvements at both the classroom and enterprise levels. She has spearheaded cross-agency collaborations, implemented equity-driven policies, and developed leadership pipelines for educators and administrators.
The proud mother of three who all attended NYC public schools, Sonya brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She is deeply committed to removing barriers to opportunity, particularly for Black and Brown children and families, and to mentoring the next generation of education leaders. A visionary yet pragmatic leader, Sonya is passionate about leveraging her platform to inspire, innovate, and transform public education into a system where all children can thrive.
