Sonja Gedde New Member

Jump To: Publication History | Interview

Rogue Principal With Principles

Poetry Nonfiction

Dr. Sonja Gedde was baptized by fire into public education, beginning her career in an impoverished inner-city school where she learned education is nothing without human connection. In the decades since this initial foray, she has earned a Ph.D. focused on human capacity and an Ed.S. in Educational Policy Studies, emerging a self-proclaimed “educational storyteller” and “narrative theorist.”
By day, a high school administrator for one of the largest and most academically decorated secondary schools in Colorado as well as a professor of pedagogy, communication science, and leadership preparation.
After hours: a sought-after international writer and speaker, with publications and speaking engagements underscoring her reputation as a progressive, human-centered school leader and compelling author.
Known for her unapologetic boldness, she pairs a commanding written and oral presence embodying a deep reservoir where her heart, intellect, and soul co-mingle playfully.

Location:: Fort Collins, CO
Birthdate:: 17 November (48 years old)
Social:: Blog/web
Instagram

Sonja Gedde's Publication History

Sep 2026

Routledge published Rehumanizing Supervision and Evaluation

Interview with Sonja Gedde

Where do you prefer to do your creative work?

A small boutique hotel in the jungles of southwest Mexico has been my go-to home for writing retreats for the past two years. There is something magical about this setting which calls forward my best creative energy.

How much of a typical day (or week) are you able to dedicate to your creative work?

As a highly disciplined writer, I feel most like myself when I allocate daily time to my creative work. Beginning each day with an hour or two of writing grounds me, allowing me to show up for the demands of my day job as a high school administrator.

How do you celebrate your successes, such as acceptances? How do you handle rejections and other setbacks?

Rejection is another form of data; looking for noise in the data is what matters most. Rejection offers a writer a window into perspective and the option to apply feedback. Most of the rejections I have received have been quite kind, abundantly helpful, and encouraging.

How much time do you spend reading for pleasure or edification?

Reading improves and inspired my writing skills. I can be found reading most Saturday afternoons for an hour at a local establishment over margaritas, chips, and salsa.

What single creative achievement are you most proud of?

I delivered a TedX talk in 2024 regarding how dialogue can be used as a gateway to allow all of us to live as the most authentic version of ourselves. It was an incredible experience, but daunting and demanding all at once.

At our particular venue, we had no prompters, so we were required to write our entire piece months in advance, have it approved at the national level, attend coaching sessions, and memorize the script verbatim. No deviation was allowed once Ted has approved the content. To deliver an 18-minute speech by memory was a huge undertaking, and standing in front of 500 audience members with cameras swirling around added layers of pressure.

I have never felt more proud, nor more relieved when my speech concluded.

Last Updated: 28 Sep 2026