In addition, she attended Harvard University’s Public Education Leadership Project Program and many other leadership programs throughout the nation, including the Wake Forest University Leadership Program for Public Engagement, The Distinguished Leadership Program and the Distinguished Leadership Program Digital Learning at North Carolina State University, The Principals’ Executive Program – Leadership Program for Assistant Principals at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received the Program’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award and she graduated from the Principals’ Executive Program – Leadership Program for New Principals at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received the prestigious Jack McCall Award. Dr. McKoy also attended the Mastering Leadership Dynamics Program with the BB&T Institute, as well as three other programs at BB&T. In addition, she was accepted into The National Scholars Honor Society.  A highlight of her career is that in 2017, she was selected by Winston Salem State University as the Education Alumni Achiever Recipient.

​

Dr. McKoy began her teaching career at an alternative middle school and later taught a “regular” middle school. She has served as assistant principal at the elementary level before becoming the principal of two elementary schools. She worked as an instructor at the Math and Science Academy of Excellence at Winston-Salem State University and worked as an Adjunct Professor at NC A&T State University and ITT Technical Institute. Furthermore, she served as an Executive Director/Principal at the middle school level and has experience at the high school level. Her experience spans from pre-K through college and she uses her experience and knowledge to continue to make an impact in the field of education! Dr. McKoy was nominated for the AASA Women in School Leadership Award with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In addition, she received the Educator of the Year Award and The Executive Citation of Anne Arundel County Maryland Award. Dr. McKoy has been featured in K.I.S.H., BSM, SwagHer, Glambitious, and UP WORDS (Edutopia) magazines. She has received many accolades and recognitions for her accomplishments throughout the span of her career. 

​

She is known as a transformational leader and has improved the academic performance and success indicators of all the schools she has led. She is most proud of the fact that both elementary schools became Piedmont Triad Signature Schools- the highest growth schools! Her mission is to continue to ignite a passion for others and to make a profound impact in the field of education!

She is the President and CEO of her own Educational Consulting Business, Dr. Essie Speaks, travels the nation to do speaking engagements, and is an Amazon Six-Time Best-selling author. She has written extensively and continues to contribute to a wide variety of nationwide writing projects. She has written as an author, contributing author, and a foreword author. Her books are: The  Heart of School Transformation; My Journey into Transforming Urban Schools, Coaching Champions- How to understand the players before giving the plays; A Guide to Improvement and Success, Women of Virtue: Walking in Excellence, Leadership Tidbits, and The Grylfriend Code Sorority Edition, Vision and Purpose; Inspiring Our Community, and Women Who Lead; Extraordinary Women With Extraordinary Achievements – Featuring School Principals.

In addition, she continues to work in her area of expertise-school transformation for a local school district in the DMV and writes for Vision and Purpose Lifestyle Magazine! Furthermore, you will see Dr. McKoy once a month hosting about educational topics on the, “I Am Dr. Sharon Show,” at Urban Style Media. The segment is entitled, “Education First.” 
She invites you to visit her web site at www.dressiespeaks.com and keep abreast of updates on all social media outlets.