Cynthia Locke HendersonDr. Cynthia Henderson is a social worker who has worked in the family, medical, death and dying, and K-12 school settings. She has served as a school social worker for 26 years. In her profession, she has maintained a desire to help people improve thir lives. Dr. Henderson's undergraduate studies were completed at Fayetteville State University, master's studies in Social Work at Howard University, and doctoral studies at Howard University and the International Graduate Center. Dr. Henderson is a gifted writer, presenter, and poet. She has completed a book of original rhyming poetry titled Standing in The Midst of Trying Circumstance. Additionally, she has written several single poems targeted for special populations and events. She has also written Love Letter from God that has been instrumental in helping many find their deliverance in God during difficult times. Her book, Healing Until I Am Healed was published in November 2015. She has begun a series of children therapeutic books to address social-emotional concerns. Touching the Lives of Others and a prayer journal are currently being edited for publication. Dr. Henderson has served for several years as the writer of monthly encouragement letters that were sent to the ladies on her church's listserv and friends. A highlight of her work with challenging students was the opportunity to get General and Special Education students to love writing. Writing allowed the students to turn their scars of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and more into stories. This project has been replicated over 12 years by other Writing Project Teachers. Her writing has yielded thousands of dollars in grants to improve resources for teachers who teach low-income students in the urban setting. Dr. Henderson was accepted in the District of Columbia Area Writing Project (DCAWP) in 1995. She could incorporate the concerns of teachers in her intervention with students and provide a linkage between students and teachers to yield a successful learning partnership. Dr. Henderson was the first social worker to become a Teacher Consultant for the National Writing Project and in the local District of Columbia Area Writing Project. As a Teacher Consultant, she has presented at conferences throughout the United States and abroad. She was selected to serve as the Project Outreach Coordinator assisting with the writing of a three-year grant project to study the impact of the Writing Project for teachers in a low-income area. Added to her success, she was strongly influential in creating The New Teacher's Network, to encourage teachers to remain in the profession of teaching and supporting them through the concept of Teachers on Call (TOC). This venture led to the creation of a New Teachers Initiative with the National Writing Project. As a clinical social worker, she was selected as the Social Worker of the Year in 1995 and 2007 for the NASW District of Columbia Chapter. Dr. Henderson is also featured in the 200 Years of Public Education in the Nation's Capital 1804-2014 and was selected as the 2019 Lifetime Social Worker of the Year. Serving a second term on the Washington Teacher Union Executive Board, Dr. Henderson advocates for social workers and teachers in the District of Columbia Public Schools. She continues to seek opportunities to create lifelong learning opportunities between teachers, students, and parents. Dr. Henderson is the proud mother of four adult children and six grandchildren; among them are two sets of twin girls. Read More Read Less