Shawanda Bonner

Background

About Shawanda Bonner

A forever teacher, I made a bold decision to step away from teaching secondary English (and plenty of history, too) at my 18 year mark to avoid hating the profession I've always loved & to protect my mental health. I utilized a plethora of transferable skills in my next position as a Compliance Specialist with Polk BoCC's Housing and Neighborhood Development Office which turned out to be a wonderful stepping stone into my next career change-this time with City gov't-as the Neighborhood Outreach Senior Planner. Each position allowed me to exercise my gifts and talents to help people, young and old, to advocate for the marginalized, to learn/impart priceless knowledge and wisdom, and to bridge connections between people to promote resource sharing. In a 14-month period, I've transitioned between three wonderful positions (the longest as a public school educator) and changed jobs twice-something I hadn't done in 18 years. I didn't plan for for the shifts in my career; but I was ready each time, and that has served me well. As the adage goes: Stay ready, and you won't have to get ready. How do I see myself? Innovative writer, avid reader, inquisitive thinker, intellectual, mentor, equity and diversity advocate, and truth teller. Talents include effective dissemination of information, connecting people and community resources, strong written and verbal communication skills. Critical thinker and problem solver. Underdog advocate with a service-oriented disposition. Practical knowledge troubleshooter, utilizing both skill and common sense to pinpoint issues and develop solutions. Editing, revising, & proof-reading are strong suits. Possesses a broad, eclectic knowledge base covering a variety of subjects and interests and is always open to learning.