About Tonya

Aloha!
My name is Tonya and I have taught for 10 years! This fall I will be going into my 11th year, but my second as a 5th grade teacher

I have always wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl! I always remember playing school with my best friend! I also grew up taking care of my younger sisters and brother at the early age of 10! 

I grew up in Michigan but learned very quickly that teaching there was probably not going to happen:( I moved to Virginia right after student teaching and landed my first ever teaching job in my favorite age...Kindergarten! Or so I thought;) I spent one semester teaching K and learned that was not the age for me. The next school year I taught 2nd grade and loved it! After that school year ended I needed a change of scenery so I moved to NC. The first year in NC I taught 1st and the second year in NC I taught 3rd and FELL IN LOVE! I knew that was the age for me!

After that year of 3rd grade I took the year off to go back to grad school full time! I received my Masters in Literacy 10 months later and landed back in 3rd grade at an amazing school. I taught at Creekside for 3 years, all in 3rd grade. Creekside was a huge part of my teaching career and I miss them every day!

My husband Adam and I moved to Hawaii in the summer of 2013! I landed a job teaching 2nd grade right away! I am at a school on an Army base. It is different than any other place I have taught but I really like it. 

I taught 2nd my first year in Hawaii, 3rd the next, and 5th last year! I am SO thankful I am staying in my same room in 5th grade for the 16-17 school year. My heart belongs in 5th grade!


My husband and I have been married for 5 years! We have 5 cats (yes, we are totally cat people!)
Their names are George, Sammy, Pedro, Bailey and Oscar. They are so much fun and get along great!

We bought our dream house in the fall of 2014 and have had a great time decorating it! 

Thanks for coming by!
Tonya