Tonya Sangester, MBA
Tonya Sangester, MBA, is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in public safety and government administration. She dedicated 18 years to emergency services, serving as an administrator in the 911 center where she oversaw operations, personnel, and disaster response. Tonya’s work ensured critical support for individuals during some of the most challenging moments of their lives, reflecting her commitment to community service, operational excellence, and empathetic leadership.
Following her retirement from public safety, Tonya transitioned to education operations with Jefferson County Public Schools. As an Operations Section Clerk, she manages facilities maintenance across 143 schools, coordinating groundskeeping, snow removal, and other essential operations. Previously, she served as a Leave Center Coordinator, assisting staff with medical and military leave, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to supporting employees and the broader school community.
Tonya attributes her success to strong mentorship and the guidance of supportive parents, which shaped her approach to leadership and service. She values family, trust, honesty, and open communication, applying these principles in every professional endeavor. Passionate about mentoring the next generation, she encourages continuous learning and leads with empathy, compassion, and a genuine commitment to helping others, making a meaningful impact in every role she undertakes.
• MBA
• Webster University – Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Administration and Management
• Kentucky State University – Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration and Management
• Thanksgiving dinners at church
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being raised by supportive parents who allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them, combined with great leaders and bosses who trusted me, taught me, and helped me grow. I believe a key part of leadership is teaching the next generation what you’ve learned, rather than holding it back.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Tell people how to do things and lead them forward. That’s what good leaders do—they empower others by sharing knowledge and experience.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You must have the heart for it and empathy. Public safety work is often not glamorous and may involve difficult or "not-so-nice" jobs. You have to genuinely care about helping people and be motivated by service, not just pay.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The emotional challenges of high-stress incidents and disasters can be significant, so strong support systems and understanding leadership are essential. The opportunity lies in mentoring the next generation and encouraging ongoing education and skill development.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family, open communications, trust and honesty. You got to be able to trust people that you're around, and honesty is just one of the biggest things. I tell my kids all the time, I'd rather you tell me the truth and I'll be mad at you than to lie to me and let me find out later that you lied. Once you start a lie and go that route, you have to continue it, and then you're so confused because you're trying to live a lie and balance the truth. So just tell the truth, take your punishment and move on with it. We are humans, so it's okay to be a human and make mistakes, but just own up to it.