POPMENTALITY
Dr. Ryan Sykes is a nationally recognized public school educator from Chesapeake, Virginia. He is the former Principal of Pleasants Lane Elementary School for Petersburg City Public Schools. He started his career in 2011 in Chesapeake Public Schools as a 6th grade Special Education Math Teacher. In 2017, he got his first assistant principal position at Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, VA where he won the Milken Educator Award in 2019 for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Sykes earned a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies in 2011 and a master’s in administration and supervision in 2014 from Virginia State University. He completed his doctoral degree in education administration supervision at VSU with an emphasis in special education in May of 2024. Dr. Ryan Sykes is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Building Our Youth LLC, Mentoring and Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) healthcare provider serving Central Virginia.
Ryan: When I say make it you say "POP"! Make it..
Audience: POP!
Ryan: Make it...
Audience: POP!
Whenever Ryan is about to deliver a keynote speech, one of the first things he does is ignite the audience by the call and response stated above. This isn't just a catch phrase to get the audience attention, but a true mentality that Ryan has lived by all his life. Perseverance + Opportunity + Purpose is a mentality that he has developed over the years. Often reflecting on how he has overcome traumatic experiences as an adolescence such as homelessness, child abuse and gun violence, he understands persevering through difficult times is done with discipline and consistency that develops gratitude and a positive mindset. He is a true testimony that by persevering through life's challenges, it will eventually manifest opportunities that will ultimately lead to ones highest form of compensation, finding their Purpose in life!
Photo: Housing Projects, Richmond Virginia (1995)
Growing up in poverty, often not knowing where his next meal was coming from, Ryan persevered through traumatic experiences as an adolescences. Attending 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 2 high schools between Tidewater and Richmond Virginia, Ryan was often chronically absent from school due to homelessness and his parents drug addiction to crack cocaine. However, he would continue to PERSEVERE, which in result manifest OPPORTUNITIES through education, ultimately finding his PURPOSE in life.
Photo: Son - Ryan Leigh Sykes Jr.
Ryan's life changed 12:26pm on March 13th, 2017 when his one and only son, Ryan Leigh Sykes Jr. was born. Simply put, his son has been his newly added PURPOSE since the day he was born.
Dr. Ryan Sykes Virginia 2019 Milken Educator Award Recipient
If you’re looking for Ryan Sykes, Assistant Principal at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia, skip his office. You’ll likely find him high-fiving and fist-bumping students and teachers in the halls, or modeling lessons and positive behavior supports in classrooms. Sykes has a magical ability to connect with students. He knows every student by name and builds relationships with all of them, especially those with the greatest needs. His energy is boundless and contagious. Sykes is the first one on the dance floor at school socials, eats lunch with students in the cafeteria and tackles the obstacle course with them on field day, coaxing reluctant students from the sidelines into the action. He spent an entire day clad in the leotard and tights of Frozone, a character from “The Incredibles,” to fulfill a promise after students reached their target on state assessments. His background in special education makes him particularly sensitive to working with all people’s talents and challenges.
Smart, confident and respected, Sykes goes the extra mile to get the best from students, teachers and parents. He researched, coordinated and implemented an advisory program that helps students foster peer-to-peer relationships through positive behavior, communication, social and empathy skills. Sykes supervised a yearlong STEM program for underserved African American young men at Woodson made available through a grant from Virginia State University and Verizon. Students move to high school brimming with confidence because of the advisory groups, mentoring sessions and tutoring services he facilitates.
Sykes earned a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies in 2011 and a master’s in administration and supervision in 2014 from Virginia State University. He completed his doctoral degree in Education Administration & Supervision with a concentration in special education in May of 2024 from VSU.