Bob Sonju
Bob Sonju is an award-winning educational leader, author, and educational consultant, recognized for his energetic commitment to building effective teams, developing RTI structures that support teachers and students, and creating an effective school culture committed to learning for all students. Bob was formerly the principal of nationally recognized Fossil Ridge Intermediate School and has also served as a high school administrator and special education teacher. Most recently, Bob was the executive director of teaching and learning for Washington County School District. After six years as a district-level administrator, Bob’s deep desire to work together with teachers and students again led him back to school as principal of Washington Fields Intermediate.
While leading Fossil Ridge Intermediate, Bob and his staff developed a true professional learning community that continues to produce extraordinary results today. In 2013 and 2016, Fossil Ridge received the prestigious National Breakthrough School Award by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Fossil Ridge continues to be listed as a PLC Model School. Their work as a school has been featured in Principal Leadership magazine and on allthingsplc.info. As a district leader, Bob led the implementation of the professional learning community process in a district composed of 50 schools.
Bob was named 2011 Principal of the Year for middle-level schools by the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals and was selected as one of three finalists for National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. His work has been published in Principal Leadership magazine and in the Solution Tree publications It’s About Time, Best Practices at Tier 2, and Help Your Team.
Bob earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and an endorsement in school administration from Southern Utah University.