Leadership

Nicole Waicunas is the Creator and Co-Director of The School of Innovative Learning. She is also, currently, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model Outreach Coordinator at the University of Connecticut’s, Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development. Prior to her work with the university, she was a secondary English teacher for fifteen years, focusing on the implementation of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model in the regular classroom. She holds a Master’s Degree in Gifted Education from the University of Connecticut. Her undergraduate work in World Literature, with a Minor in Education was completed at Columbia University and Barnard College in New York, New York. 

 

An educator, writer, and true believer in the potential of every child, in every classroom, Nicole works to help teachers to see the light in every student, and make it shine brighter. The on-line, first year of the school that is country-wide in scope allows for children from all socio-economic, “ability,” gender, and interest groups, as well as expression styles in terms of learning to grow and find the best ways to express their gifts and talents to come to school with joy, excitement, and intention to discover. The short term goals span a track of three to five years, in which her team will move to both on-line and “in-school” in one to three more schools; the long term goal, when her extended team will open Schools of Innovative Learning here as well as overseas within the next twenty years. 

 

Since the onset of Covid-19 Nicole continues to work on-line with administrators, teachers, and students to provide coaching. Her passion and expertise spans across the SEM pedagogy including enrichment clusters, the enrichment triad, curriculum compacting, creativity, the social and emotional well-being of the student with a focus on self-efficacy, and self-actualization. Her past work includes filming for AETN in Arkansas for their educational network with Joseph Renzulli et al. to the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain where she trained teachers to implement the SEM in their classrooms. Her continued work with her overseas partners is something which she spends time nurturing as she understands that countries connect through their children, and through the talents and interests of those children. Nicole has also traveled to Beijing, China, where she worked with K – 12 teachers and administrators who are implementing the SEM as well as to Manilla, in the Philippines to work with K – 12 teachers who are fascinated with finding the gifts and talents within every child. 

 

Her newest work, with Istanbul, Turkey, has led her to make new friends, and to establish opportunities for teachers to see the power and beauty that each child holds. She has worked with youth from around the world at the Renzulli Summer Institute held at Yale University and hears from students that she met who were moved and changed by their experiences during that summer. 

 

As the SEM Outreach Coordinator for the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development, Nicole is experienced at working with small and large groups of teachers and administrators as well as students of all ages and in every demographic of society. In addition to being a Confratute Strand Coordinator and Special Topics Presenter for four years, Nicole also works with teams of teachers, helping them to take the tools that they learn at Confratute back to their schools for implementation. Now, in The School, the true opportunities for students, facilitators, and parents, as well as communities in which parents and students reside are open to the unlimited potential that each member of those communities brings to the table. Nicole’s excitement is unbounded as the school has the potential and promise to transform lives and bring joy to those who select to participate in their own choices in education.

 

In 2012, Nicole was awarded the Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award. She was one of twenty nationally selected teachers to be recognized by the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards. “The award publicly recognizes specific teachers by spotlighting their extraordinary impact on the lives of students. The Awards celebrate the teaching profession, the important role of teachers in society, and seeks to inspire others to pursue this noble profession. Nominated by students they once taught, these former students’ stories exemplify the power one teacher has to inspire others and transform lives” http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/awards/sondheim/. 

 

Nicole is also an author. She has contributed to Joseph Renzulli’s most recent book Reflections, as well as co-authoring his recent article, along with Dr. Carla Brigandi, Identifying and Developing Creative and Productive Giftedness: Major Challenges for the 21st Century Learners. Nicole is also working on the publication of her first book, Run which documents the journey of one of her former high school students and his family as they found their way out of Baghdad, Iraq in 2006. Nicole’s student’s father worked for the American forces as an interpreter, and the book chronicles their life and death experiences as they became heroes and villains in both Iraq and America as they struggled to stay alive, eventually all arriving safely here, in America. A chapter from the book, entitled Fireworks was published in the Connecticut Writer’s Magazine in 2012.

Sonia Taylor-Smith is Co-Director for The School of Innovative Learning. In addition, she is an Educational Consultant and the sole proprietor of Ability: Special Education Unlocked, a company that helps families navigate the complexities of Special Education and secure meaningful supports for students that are atypical-diverse learners, with various social and emotional needs. Sonia believes that building strong partnerships between families and schools facilitates more opportunities for students to excel and thrive.

 

In 2018, Sonia joined The State of Connecticut Special Education Advisory Council as an Ad Hoc councilwoman, pending her formal appointment letter. Sonia’s focus is placed on improving educational outcomes for students throughout Connecticut.
Sonia joined The School of Innovate Learning in 2017.

 

Sonia’s formal training enables her to understand the complexities within education and support the students with whom she works with academically, culturally, socially and emotionally.

 

In addition, Sonia’s experience in:
• Testing for learning and behavioral disabilities
• Developing lesson plans and creating Individual Education Plans, (IEPs)
• Creating Behavioral Intervention Plans, (BIPs)
• Comprehensive school-based observations
Sonia’s skills allow her to support students and their families who come to her with a variety of needs.

 

In 2012- 2015, Sonia’s passion for supporting students and their families resulted in her securing an internship and subsequent contract with The State of Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (OPA). She worked with the Director of Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), researching and compiling information for the office’s website, dedicated to parents seeking special education and mental health information. Sonia was assigned to work with Special Education Advocate(s) and attorney(s) to interview clients, analyze educational records and create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). In addition, she collaborated and strategized with staff and families regarding Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings, attended and provided advocacy for students at PPT meetings.

 

In 2016,  Sonia became the Chairwoman of Stafford Early Education Council, a council dedicated to the health, safety and educational well being of Stafford, CT’s youngest citizens. Sonia understands that to create success for a child, the work must encompass more advocates than the parent and the teacher. She also advocates for the inclusion of the child’s medical doctor, the school’s
superintendent, principal, teachers, family members and other community agencies in an effort to improve the health, education, and well-being of each child within the community.

 

It is evident that Sonia has put her passion for what she discovered through her own education to good use. A member of the Honor Society at the University of Connecticut, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, with a concentration in Special Education from the Neag School of Education. Prior to that, Sonia received her Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Law from Central Connecticut State University. Locally, Sonia has been awarded recognition for her dedication and commitment to the health, education, and safety of young children in Stafford Springs, CT, resulting from her participation in SECC and the School Readiness Council.

 

When Sonia is not working with students and their families, she sponsors a local food pantry in the town of Stafford Springs, dedicated to families who could use extra support in meeting their own needs. Sonia’s dedication for her efforts was recognized and featured in the 2017 October edition of the Go Local Massachusetts & Connecticut magazine. http://www.golocalmagazines.com/about/newblog/community-cupboard/.

 

Sonia Taylor-Smith is a person dedicated to facilitating and promoting the success of students and families. She spends her time working with others in an effort to minimize and eliminate the barriers that impede their success, focusing instead on the strengths and talents of the people with whom she interacts. As the Co-Director for The School of Innovative Learning she uses and will continue to use her
passion and drive to help facilitate successful futures for children and their families.

 

Sonia Taylor-Smith is a person dedicated to facilitating and promoting the success of students and families. She spends her time working with others to minimize and eliminate the barriers that impede their success, focusing instead on the strengths and talents of the people with whom she interacts.  As the Co-Director for The School of Innovative Learning she uses and will continue to use her passion and drive to help facilitate successful futures for children and their families.