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She viewed her initial high school teaching career, with Los Angeles county schools, as a missionary opportunity for outreach to inner city students often bereft of hope and access to healing. Although officially teaching English and drama, she feels the most substantive learning took place between classes and after school when she had ample opportunity to share the strength of her faith in Jesus with youth weakened by desperate searching. During her first two years on a faculty of 270, Tonya was student voted “Teacher of the Year.” A move to the Bay Area brought the opportunity to work at Highlands Christian Schools where she served as chapel coordinator while teaching speech and drama. Here she furthered her research on memorization training, and taught workshops for teachers at the Accreditation of Christian Schools International (ACSI) seminars. Included in her credits, is an 8th grade cast of 46 students directed in a memorized performance of the entire book of James set to motion and song, which she dedicated to David Shelton. Tonya lives in Southern California with her husband Jeff and their son. She is able to travel upon invitation. |
