New Leaders Alum Named 2025 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year

Long before she was recognized on a national stage, Dr. Matthew began shaping her leadership approach through what she learned as an aspiring principal through New Leaders.
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Blog date - New Leaders Images
7/31/25
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Dr. Sonia Matthew, a 2012 New Leaders alum, has been named a 2025 Outstanding Assistant Principal by the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). The annual award honors 25 assistant principals across the nation who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, contributed significantly to their school communities, and helped advance student success.

Today, Dr. Matthew serves as assistant principal at Mary B. Neal Elementary School, part of Charles County Public Schools in Maryland, one of the state’s fastest-growing school districts. Since stepping into the role at Neal in 2023, she has worked alongside her leadership team to strengthen instructional practices and build a thriving, student-centered culture.

For Dr. Matthew, leadership is more than a title. It’s a commitment to developing others.

“Leadership is really about multiplication,” she explains. “It’s important to create more leaders. If we’re not doing that, we’re not really being effective.”

This mindset of growth, mentorship, and multiplying leadership has shaped every step of her journey, and it was deeply influenced by her experience with New Leaders.

The Roots of Her Leadership Journey

Long before she was recognized on a national stage, Dr. Matthew began shaping her leadership approach through what she learned as an aspiring principal through New Leaders. Her experience with New Leaders programs deepened her commitment to instructional excellence and reflective practice.

“My experience with New Leaders helped me reflect on who I am as a leader and focus on what really matters,” she says. “Those experiences still guide my work today.”

She cites specific outcomes of her experience with New Leaders, such as a stronger grasp of data-driven practices, the ability to build collective advocacy among her team, and a deeper understanding of instructional leadership. She stresses that these aren’t abstract skills, but they are the very tools she uses daily to guide teachers and support students.

New Leaders also introduced her to influential mentors like Dr. Judy Adams, a veteran principal in Prince George's County and fellow New Leaders alum, whose legacy of growing future leaders continues to inspire her.

A Philosophy in Action

Dr. Matthew’s leadership philosophy shows up not just in strategy meetings or instructional walkthroughs, but in the lives she’s impacted along the way. Recently, a former fifth-grade student, who is now an educator herself, reached out to share how Sonia’s example had influenced her decision to return and teach in the very school where they first met.

"When I get letters like that, it touches me greatly," Sonia says. "It reminds me that the students in front of me today are going to be impacted by what we do as teachers and leaders. It's my responsibility to show up as my very best for them."

Her story highlights why effective leadership in schools matters. Research from the Wallace Foundation shows that strong principals and assistant principals drive school culture, teacher development, and student outcomes. Yet too often, school leaders are trained in operations, not in the people-centered leadership skills that drive long-term success. Programs like the National Aspiring Principals Fellowship help fill that gap and equip future school leaders with the tools to inspire, coach, and lead.

Looking Ahead

Dr. Matthew is quick to point out that leadership is never a finished product.

“Leadership is a journey, not a destination,” she says. “It’s about constant growth—and helping others grow along the way.”

That belief continues to guide her work as she invests in teachers, lifts up students, and inspires the next generation of school leaders.

Congratulations to Dr. Sonia Matthew on being named a 2025 Outstanding Assistant Principal!

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