The present we create impacts our children's fate.
A quote from Sonya D. Springfield's original song, Community.
The Next Grade
Is there a child you hope to encourage?
Written for every student (big and small) who needs the reminder that doing more makes a difference, "The Next Grade" will both challenge young readers and support parents attempting to explain the value of diligence and hard work. Tackling the tough issue of social promotion in schools, author Sonya D. Springfield uses an intelligent rhyme to challenge young people toward accepting some personal responsibility for learning all they can to prepare for the future.
Recommended for 4th grade and up.
32 pages (including covers).
About
Sonya D. Springfield
Sonya D. Springfield was born and raised in Illinois on the east side of the Mississippi River. At present, she lives in the metropolitan Washington, DC area where she is both a Director of Children and Youth for a local church and an educator in an area public school system. Sonya has enjoyed writing and the arts (in their various forms) since her youth, and she is committed to social justice following the example of Jesus Christ.
For more than ten years, Sonya served area nonprofits and individuals living with low income full-time through her work in communications, community engagement, and grant writing. She is also a former communications staffer of Black Entertainment Television and other notable entities. Sonya continues communications work part-time through through small independent contracts. (Click here for more on professional services.)
Sonya’s first full-time job after her initial undergraduate education was in the editorial department of Highlights for Children magazine, and in addition to her current teaching role, her love for children has previously led her to also serve as a shelter child care volunteer, youth tutor, camp counselor, and children’s church teacher/worship leader. Sonya hopes her youth-geared writing (which relaunched with her 2020 booklet "The Next Grade") will both challenge young readers and help make it easier for parents to start conversations on important topics that particularly impact children of color.
As a musician, Sonya's soothing alto voice can also soar in strength. In addition to her solo efforts, she has sung with Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music, the Chane Link House Band on DC's Odyssey Cruise, the American Family Choir for TNT's "Christmas in Washington," the Kennedy Center Honors Tribute Choir, WPAS Men & Women of the Gospel, and various other ministry and community ensemble efforts.
Sonya is also a poet and songwriter, and she is currently working on both her first album and a collection of poetic works.
Sonya has a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling, but the challenges she has overcome in life through faith have been her greatest teacher.
Explore medium.com/@sonyaspringfield for some of Sonya's blog posts.
