Music that Describes Tonya
Tonya Willson was nominated by her colleague, Heather Mahoney.
Ms. Willson is an excellent special education teacher. She works in a self-contained classroom for students with emotional impairments. These students have been told they're "bad" or have been singled out for a while by previous teachers and staff. Ms. Willson makes it a point to personally greet her students daily to ensure they know they are wanted and welcomed in the classroom.
Ms. Willson also extends this inclusivity to fellow staff members. She helps manage her school's social committee to ensure various staff members receive gifts and kind words during their National Appreciation Day/Week/Month, or if they have a special event (wedding, baby shower, etc.).
This year, Ms. Willson has had a challenging classroom to manage due to the students' personalities. However, she has been able to still come to work with a smile and help her students and colleagues.
"This is my first year working with Tonya, and I was highly nervous about this school year due to mishaps that happened the previous school year. Tonya has welcomed me to the school culture and the team family with open arms and has helped me navigate various obstacles this year. Without Tonya, I would be looking for a new job where I could belong and feel like what I do is making a difference," said Mahoney.
I met Tonya at my first job out of grad school. She mentored a brand new group of staff at a school in her district. She helped us establish systems to support our students and guided us towards better practices. She is incredibly kind and deserves this nomination. Congrats!
Tonya is a wonderful Teacher who has a beautiful heart & soul! She works so hard at giving each student everything that they need to be successful for the year. She is also one of the most caring people I know.
Love you, Tonya
Congratulations!!
Tonya is a positive force for good. She understands students with special needs like few other. Tonya has walked the walk. She advocates for all students, focuses on their strengths, and works tirelessly to educate staff in order to promote optimum learning environments. Tonya builds relationships and puts human connection above all else. She understands that students need to feel safe and to know that they belong and she makes sure this happens.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Tonya for over 13 years and I can say with certainty, that she has blazed a trail for our students. We are all better because of her positive influence, students and staff alike.
Tonya's kindness and generosity towards her students and other staff members is truly inspirational. What sets Tonya apart is her integrity, positivity, and perseverance. She puts her heart and soul into everything she does.
To know her is to love her and there are not enough words to be able to express how much Tonya means to me. Tonya and I met threw a mutual friend and saw one another from time to time but didn’t keep in touch other than during those events. I lost my dad 2 years ago and throughout one of the darkest times in my life Tonya was never far to just pop in to remind me I wasn’t alone and I would get through it. 2 years later she still is here reminding me on those random days that I am ok. To me she is sunshine in a human form and I’ll never be able to thank her or repay her enough for what she has done and continues to do without even realizing it
I’ve known Tonya for about 35 years! Through all of these years she’s always been one of the most positive beautiful people inside and out, that I’ve known! I know as a teacher she exudes those characteristics with her students and they benefit from her special heart! She deserves every accolade that is bestowed upon her!
My son Kevin is now 23 yrs old. He attended Edison Max at the end of first grade due to his emotional impairments. As a parent raising a child with an emotional and developmental impairment is very difficult. Not for my own challenges but those met by outside individuals and judge. Mrs. Willson greeted us, taught Kevin and not once did I or our family feel judged or blamed for bad parenting. It was the first IEP I attended that I was told good things about Kevin. She actually enjoyed (although I’m sure was exhausted) working with Kevin. Her work as a special needs teacher goes above and beyond the classroom. She is compassionate, endearing and an all around special person. I’m sure her life could be easier finding another job but she’s returned to the school year after year, class after class and child after child. We are blessed to have had her for Kevin’s schooling and in our families lives.
I have known Tonya for 15 years as a member of the HPEA (teachers union) Executive Board. She is a Building Representative and updates her colleagues about relevant school matters and works with her Administrator to address concerns. She welcomes and helps new teachers in her building. She juggles her classroom, union and family, seemingly effortlessly and always with a smile. If you saw her in the classroom, you would see a teacher that loves her job and her students. She makes a difference everyday with students that have been sent from schools from all over Oakland County; Tonya makes them feel at home, safe and appreciated.
You are so awesome, Pooh Bear!
Tonya is an incredible teacher who gives 120% everyday to her students.
I have worked with Tonya over the past 6 years. While this school is a challenge year in and year out, every year presents with different challenges. Tonya has always faced every challenge with the "can do" attitude with a smile on her face. Tonya has been nominated in the past for various teacher of year awards, but they are so deserved, and without question needed to help keep the positivity when things are difficult. Tonya is a gift to our school and we are all blessed to have her -- staff and students.
