As a lifelong educator and equity advocate, Dr. Sandra Wallace Nethels holds a deep understanding of resilience.
Growing up as the oldest of four in a household of activists, she attended NAACP meetings regularly with her father, Homer Lee Wallace, who co-founded the local Effingham County Georgia chapter, and learned from a very young age about the multitude of challenging circumstances that make achievement a steeper uphill climb for many.
She puts that understanding to work each year as a planning council member for Georgia Southern University’s National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference (NYAR), a role she stepped into along with her position as Special Programs Coordinator for Effingham County School District (GA).
Dr. Nethels (L) with her mother, Mary Tanksley Wallace (R, deceased) meeting keynote speaker Stedman Graham at the 2018 NYAR Conference.
Recently coming off of yet another successful NYAR – an annual gathering in Savannah, GA that brings together 1,000-1,400 education professionals and youth advocates of all backgrounds for two and a half days of engaging sessions, keynote speakers, dozens of exhibitors, and her favorite activity, the poverty simulation – Dr. Nethels describes the purpose of the conference as “getting advocates centered around and focused on working with youth.”
The conference subject matter categories of Head, Heart, Hands, Health, and Home focus on the variety of structures and systems needed to support vulnerable students, guiding them toward (and helping them remain on) a successful path to graduation and beyond. These resilient students are, as Dr. Nethels points out, “at promise, not at risk,” – a term borrowed from her colleagues, and a shift of terminology toward positive and empowering language Dr. Nethels supports.
Dr. Nethels is a pillar in her community, where she has worked her entire life. Starting fresh out of undergrad as an elementary school teacher, she eventually transitioned to high school leadership as an Assistant Principal before taking on her current role in 2012. Wearing the many hats of an education administrator, she stays busy as an instrumental leader for dozens of district and community programs encompassing all schools and grade levels.
She is passionate about all students, for instance the students at Effingham’s Crossroads Academy. Crossroads is an alternative recovery school where “the community and district invest in these kids, bringing them scholarships, military opportunities, and more. It’s a phenomenal program where they don’t feel like they’re isolated from the world.”
“What I see that’s changing… for us, especially in this school system, we are really doing the work to make sure that our kids know we care,” Dr. Nethels says. She’s concerned about districts around the country being under-resourced and misunderstood, and points out that even in times of uncertainty “we are continuing to move forward and we hope other districts will continue to do that as well.”
Speaking on the importance of collaboration and what an educator gains from attending conferences, Dr. Nethels says, “the only way you can really get to real collaboration is through exposure.” She adds that the NAEHCY conference and NYAR conference are excellent annual opportunities for that exposure. “I’m really excited about the 2025 United We Soar NAEHCY Conference,” she says. “Collaboration is more important than ever before and we’re going to have curated content this year to address the most pressing topics for homeless and vulnerable youth.”
Dr. Nethels has been involved with NAEHCY for decades and currently serves as an At-Large Member on the NAEHCY Board of Directors.
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