Her Story
About Tonya
I have spent almost my entire life in early childhood education - nearly 35 years, starting when I was young. I am currently the director of a Head Start program in Birmingham, Alabama, overseeing a funded enrollment of over 500 children. My connection to Head Start runs deep and personal: I was a Head Start child myself, then a Head Start parent, and now I lead a Head Start program. Before my current director role, which I've held for 5 years, I served as associate director at another program with over 1,000 children in funded enrollment. In addition to my administrative work, I am an adjunct professor at the local community college, where I conduct trainings and professional development for staff and deliver presentations. I have extensive experience working with various early childhood organizations across Alabama, including state pre-K and school systems. I have provided numerous trainings for the state of Alabama on topics including children with special needs and classroom management. My passion for early childhood education stems from my belief that if you can catch children before kindergarten and help them with behavioral management, preventative strategies, and social-emotional skills, they will have much more successful school years. I am currently pursuing my PhD in program management, with plans to provide consultations nationwide, continue teaching at community colleges and universities, become a keynote speaker for conferences, and launch my own consultation business.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tonya
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't go into it for the money. It has to be a passion. You have to have a calling for this field, because you will get kicked, you will get hit, as these children are learning how to get along with each other. As a teacher, you need to be able to be all things for a child, whether it be an early childhood teacher or a regular teacher - that counselor, that problem solver, that doctor to say, okay, let's fix this. And you have to have the patience for it. If you don't have patience, you are doomed from the very beginning. There are going to be hard days. Some classrooms you're going to have great rooms, and in some classrooms you're going to have your hands full. You have to teach preschoolers social skills, and the reward is so great. If it is a passion for you, let the passion fuel you through the challenges.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and transparency are my top two values, for sure. I believe in showing up for people when you say you're going to show up for them and doing those hard things. Sometimes people are fearful of being transparent for that fear of being judged, and I feel like transparency helps people to also be transparent and to know it's okay to speak their truth and be their authentic self. If you're not transparent, who are you? In early childhood and in the world, if you're not transparent, or honest, or have some kind of integrity, it's going to be hard to get people to connect and buy in to doing what you want them to do or doing those things that are hard. Sometimes people need somebody to be transparent not only so that they can talk about themselves and bring in themselves, but they can make that connection, that buy-in, whatever you're trying to get them to do.
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