LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Sondra Brake was nominated by her colleague, Sara Wilmot.

"I've had the distinct pleasure of working closely with Sondra for the past four years," said Wilmot. "Sondra and I began our journey at Plainfield together, and I am grateful to have spent these last four years working alongside and learning from such an outstanding individual."

Ms. Brake has provided the Plainfield School community with remarkable leadership, especially during this challenging year of COVID-19. She has been able to graciously support staff, students, parents, and community members while essentially managing two organizations (an in-person learning environment and a remote model). Ms. Brake has exceptional organization, communication, and time management skills that have helped her complete the abundance of tasks and requirements that this year has called for.

"What stands out the most to me about Sondra is her authenticity, courage, and ability to be vulnerable," said Wilmot. "Sondra embraces the practice of self-reflection and is able to build trust with her colleagues by being empathic. As Brene Brown says, 'vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.' Sondra has modeled...how to be vulnerable and form connections with the goal of creating change. I have never worked with anyone as hard-working and dedicated as Sondra is."

Ms. Brake truly cares about the whole child and pours her entire being into her profession. From working early mornings to stay on top of emails, to working individually with students who are struggling with remote learning, to ensuring that every child in the school has access to a book at the book fair, to donating Christmas gifts to students in foster care, Ms. Brake works tirelessly to meet the needs of all students and families. She always leads by example and by going above and beyond what is expected of her.

In addition to being an outstanding leader, Ms. Brake is a seasoned educator who continues to excel in the classroom environment. She has made an effort to be a teaching principal, joining teachers in the classroom to model strategies and techniques using a hands-on approach. It is abundantly clear that she has a diverse skill set shown by her certifications in special education, regular education, and administration. She is able to pull from a large repertoire of skills, making her exceptionally valuable in a variety of settings and with a range of people.