Overview
Sonita is a seasoned legal and strategic advisor who counsels organizations on compliance, policy development, labor relations, and organizational operations.
Drawing on extensive experience in both the legal and public education sectors, she guides employers through complex internal challenges, including labor negotiations, investigations, and regulatory compliance.
With more than a decade of senior leadership experience in public education, Sonita has led major organizational initiatives related to employee relations, collective bargaining, and internal policy enforcement. She has represented management in high-stakes labor negotiations involving thousands of employees, developed performance evaluation systems, and implemented progressive discipline and grievance resolution procedures. Her work has also included direct oversight of risk management, legal compliance, procurement, and human capital strategies.
Sonita has served as the chief negotiator for collective bargaining with both teacher and support staff unions, aligning contractual outcomes with organizational priorities and fiscal realities. She has trained school leaders and department heads on legal compliance, contract interpretation, and performance documentation, and has represented employers in administrative hearings, mediations, and grievance proceedings. Sonita also has experience reviewing and drafting service contracts, managing public records compliance, and advising on legal matters related to family law and employee obligations in educational settings.
About Me
Outside of work, Sonita enjoys spending time with family and friends and staying active. She participates in a local women’s recreational tennis league, appreciating the mix of competition and camaraderie. She also loves to travel and gives back to her community by regularly volunteering at local elementary schools to support students and promote educational equity.
Credentials
Education
Florida Coastal School of Law
- J.D., 2005
Jacksonville University
- M.A.T., Educational Leadership, 1998
Kansas Newman College
- B.S., Elementary Education, 1993
Media
News
Professional & Civic Associations
Professional
- SHRM, Employee Investigations Specialty
Admissions
- Florida, 2006
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou
