Dr. Sonya Hayes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee. She received her PhD in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University, and prior to entering the professoriate, Dr. Hayes served in public education as a high school English teacher, an Assistant Principal, and a principal for 23 years. Her research interests include leadership development and professional learning for both pre-and in-service school principals, primarily focusing on mentoring, coaching, and networking. She has published her research in numerous books and academic journals. Dr. Hayes currently serves on several editorial boards and serves in numerous capacities for both the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).