About Cheryl D. Watkins, PhD
Cheryl D. Watkins
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC
Dr. Cheryl D. Watkins is an award-winning educator who fell in love with teaching as a child. On rainy days, you could find her playing school on the back porch of her apartment building with her sisters and friends. She remembers how her teachers would save copies of worksheets for her to use when she played school. The early experiences
Dr. Cheryl D. Watkins is an award-winning educator who fell in love with teaching as a child. On rainy days, you could find her playing school on the back porch of her apartment building with her sisters and friends. She remembers how her teachers would save copies of worksheets for her to use when she played school. The early experiences in her educational experience helped to pave the way for her academic and professional successes.
Dr. Watkins has two earned advance degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago, including a Masters degree and a Ph.D. in special education. Currently, she is studying to become a chaplain at a local school of Divinity.
She has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career at the local, regional and national levels. She received the Golden Apple Award (for excellence in teaching), the Kizzy Award, the Kathy Osterman Award for Superior Pubic Service, the Michael Jordan Education Club Teacher Achiever Award and the Dare to Be Great Award from the Illinois Women in Educational Leadership group. As a principal, she was one of two recipients in the state of Illinois to receive national recognition as a winner of the prestigious Milken Award for excellence in education. In 2017, Cheryl was recognized as the recipient of the Margaret T. Burroughs Legacy Award by the DuSable Museum of African-American History.
Dr, Cheryl D. Watkins is an experienced leadership coach and inspirational speaker.
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC was founded in 2020 by Dr. Cheryl D. Watkins. The goal of MEC is to provide consultation to districts and individual schools to improve instruction and academic achievement. The content of the support provided by Monarch Education Consultants, LLC. is anchored firmly in research and experience.
With mor
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC was founded in 2020 by Dr. Cheryl D. Watkins. The goal of MEC is to provide consultation to districts and individual schools to improve instruction and academic achievement. The content of the support provided by Monarch Education Consultants, LLC. is anchored firmly in research and experience.
With more than 33 years as a successful educator within the third largest district in the United States as the foundation of her work, Dr. Watkins firmly believes that there is a special place where theory meets practice. MEC takes its role in bridging the gap between the two seriously and seeks to provide a special brand of consultation services to school districts and leaders.
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC was created to provide supports to districts, schools and school leaders around three specific buckets of work. Dr. Watkins has a specific goal in mind as she engages school leaders: to increase academic achievement for students and to support the instructional capacity of teachers. Her sessions on Race and Equity, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership are requested by districts and organizations throughout the state of Illinois, across the midwest and beyond. She is a sought after speaker and professional development leader who skillfully facilitates sessions while engaging audiences and participants. Dr. Watkins has been the keynote speaker at graduations, delivered individual school professional development sessions and has addressed large and small groups of educators and leaders, on both in-person and virtual platforms.
MEC, LLC Session Topics
Monarch Education Consultants, LLC
MEC, LLC Session Topics
MEC specializes in topics related to education, school improvement, leadership and more. Here are a few of the most requested topics.
Race and Equity. During this time in education, where the playing field is changing, providing resources and services to a diverse group of individuals is necessary. MEC will engage your small, medium-sized
MEC specializes in topics related to education, school improvement, leadership and more. Here are a few of the most requested topics.
Race and Equity. During this time in education, where the playing field is changing, providing resources and services to a diverse group of individuals is necessary. MEC will engage your small, medium-sized or large group of school leaders, teachers, parents and/or community members in workshops to explore unique roles in addressing the impact of race and equity within your environment.
Read this article published in 2022 in the New York Times featuring the work of Monarch Education Consultants on Race and Equity work in Leland, Michigan.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/magazine/leland-michigan-race-school.html?smid=url-share
Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Watkins will bring her message of the necessity of creating and maintaining a balance between work and play. As school leaders, there is a tendency to consider the needs of others while not prioritizing self as you lead. The interactive session is designed, with the use of professional texts, to plant the seed of curiosity regarding balance for further, individualized exploration.
Read this article on Emotional Intelligence published in September 2023. https://www.nassp.org/publication/principal-leadership/volume-24-2023-2024/principal-leadership-september-2023/emotionally-intelligent-leader/
Leadership Development. MEC believes that the growth and development of school leaders is essential to increase the instructional capacity of teachers and ultimately impact the academic achievement of students. MEC provides coaching support to principals and assistant principals as they navigate the leadership terrain of typical and atypical instructional settings to maximize outcomes. MEC further believes that principled leaders who monitor instruction daily, plus effective teachers who provide high quality instruction grounded in the standards, equals student achievement.
Read this article published in Education Week on a partnership with a school district and a university to increase the pool of diverse male leaders.
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Author
Upcoming Events
MEC, LLC Session Topics
Dr. Watkins is the author of Releasing Her: Wrestling Peace from the Jaws of Alzheimer's, a personal project that details her experience supporting her mother as she bravely battled Alzheimer's disease. When it was released, the book was identified as a Best Seller on Amazon in the following categories:
Number One in the Alzheimer's Ca
Dr. Watkins is the author of Releasing Her: Wrestling Peace from the Jaws of Alzheimer's, a personal project that details her experience supporting her mother as she bravely battled Alzheimer's disease. When it was released, the book was identified as a Best Seller on Amazon in the following categories:
Number One in the Alzheimer's Category
Number One in the Dementia Category
Number Two in the Aging Parents Category
You can purchase a copy of
Releasing Her: Wrestling Peace from the Jaws of Alzheimer's here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BCPDNPL?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
Releasing Her: Wrestling Peace from the Jaws of Alzheimer's
ABSTRACT
The writer is careful to take us through the memory caverns of her mind as she shares the impact her mother had on others both within and outside of the family. Less than five years after diagnosis, her mother passed away from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. This third daughter’s experience during the years and moments leading up to the passing of her mother is the main focus of the book. She wants readers to know that some of the chapters were written with tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, spilling over onto her cheeks and dripping down her neck. Therefore, she warns the reader prior to the start of the book, “No tears for the writer, none for the reader.”
She follows through on her commitment to share how she and her sisters honored their mother before, during, and after the impact of the disease. Should you find yourself in a position to care for a loved one, it is important to note that at the end of the book the author offers guidance and suggestions to make your path easier.
DayTime Chicago Did you catch this in November 2021? if not, check it out. https://wgntv.com/daytime-chicago/what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-has-been-diagnosed-with-alzheimers/
Dr. Watkins is also a featured author in the 2020 Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully (COSEM) publication to support the implementation of mindful practices in classrooms.
Educator
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Dr. Watkins rose through the ranks during her career with the Chicago Public Schools. She served as a teacher, professional development leader, assistant principal, principal, instructional support leader, deputy chief of schools before retiring, after 33 years of services, she was a chief of schools. In this role she provided educational
Dr. Watkins rose through the ranks during her career with the Chicago Public Schools. She served as a teacher, professional development leader, assistant principal, principal, instructional support leader, deputy chief of schools before retiring, after 33 years of services, she was a chief of schools. In this role she provided educational leadership and instructional support to more than 70 school principals and their assistant principals, as well as more than 700 teachers, on the south, far south and southeast sides of the city.
In 2005, after writing a proposal to start a new school under the Renaissance 2010 Initiative spearheaded by then Mayor Richard Daley, Dr. Watkins became the founding principal of Pershing West Middle School.
In the field of education she is known as a servant leader and believes that it is better to give than to receive. She makes it a practice to embody that motto on a daily basis.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
ATTENTION SCHOOL LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Are you looking to increase your capacity as a school leader? If so, check out the offerings at the Illinois Principals Association. on the IPA website at https://ilprincipals.org/. The workshops and conferences that they offer are provided by practitioners and experts in every field of education
ATTENTION SCHOOL LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Are you looking to increase your capacity as a school leader? If so, check out the offerings at the Illinois Principals Association. on the IPA website at https://ilprincipals.org/. The workshops and conferences that they offer are provided by practitioners and experts in every field of education. Check them out!
The MLN of IPA is a group that meets throughout the school year to intentionally pour back into themselves. their commitment to grow and increase their capacity is evidenced by the way they lean into the work of investing in themselves. Visit the IPA website to learn more.
Spent time with Principal Kafele today, Saturday, January 11th. What a wonderful time sharing pearls of wisdom with the more than 700 participants on his platform. Check out the photo in the gallery!
Photo Gallery
Dr. Cheryl D. Watkins' Link Tree
Contact Me
Keep checking in for information about upcoming book signings and chats!
I would love to see you in person or in a virtual space.
Dr. Cheryl D. Watkins
Hours
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