Tonya L. Whiteside, M.S., M.Ed., P.P.S.

I attribute my success to not taking no for an answer and just saying yes to opportunities. That mindset really helped me say yes to being a truck driver in the military, to say yes to being a firefighter for the Forest Service for a couple years in college, to being a park ranger and getting my law enforcement commission, and to being a federal corrections officer. I know I've been hit on all of those, but all of those led me to then working in education, wanting to empower others. I learned that Tonya is not for everyone, and that's okay. I was made to path for me, not the path someone else was defining for me. Growing up, I was always the kid who they said, 'Oh, you're the teacher, or you're the counselor,' and it just stuck. I learned to be able to use my gifts and talents to encourage and to inspire. When I really got into college, there were other components that I enjoyed more, which was the counseling, the career management, and really wanting to see other people succeed. That was it. I just wanted to see other people, and I wanted to be able to share, if I could do it, you can do it too. God gave me the gift of encouraging others, and I just wanted to use it to the best of my ability, and He gave me a new lease on life, so it's like, why keep it to myself? He didn't save me for me to keep it to myself, so I wanted to share it.

Don't take no for an answer. Don't take no. That advice really helped me throughout my career. It helped me say yes to being a truck driver in the military, to say yes to being a firefighter for the Forest Service, to being a park ranger and getting my law enforcement commission, and to being a federal corrections officer. Just saying yes and not taking no opened all those doors for me, and all of those experiences led me to working in education and wanting to empower others. I learned that just because they don't see it doesn't mean it's not possible. I was made to path for me, not the path someone else was defining for me.

I would advise young women entering my industry to persistently embrace opportunities, cultivate resilience, practice self‑love and self‑identity, and never let anyone else define their value.

The biggest challenges in my field are addressing widespread trauma, particularly from domestic violence, and supporting survivors in their recovery and rebuilding. Key opportunities lie in programs that foster identity, healthy relationships, and empowerment for young women, such as "I’m More Than My Hair."

Hope, love, and patience are at the core of who I am. I start my day with a mantra that reflects these values: 'Good morning, hope, welcome, love, come on in, patience.' Some days I go in the office and say it, and other days I just live it. I believe that our lives are meant to help other people better their lives, and our stories are not accidents, but our stories are assignments. I'm a woman of faith and a builder of people, and I believe in carrying my message forward to help others. I was told a long time ago when I was out speaking that people like to take a part of you home with them, and that's why I started writing more so people could take something away to help them rebuild their life. If it helps one person, then it was worth it. Personally, I'm working on my health and wellness with a goal this year of 10,000 steps before 10 p.m., so 10 by 10 is my 2026 mission. I'm in a book club and love reading African American books. I also love singing.