Tonie Tolar Garcia 鈥�15 is living out the dream she鈥檚 had for as long as she can remember: making a difference in the lives of children by becoming an educator.
Thanks to PBA鈥檚 rigorous preparation, Garcia is thriving in her kindergarten classroom at West Glades School in LaBelle, Florida 鈥� so much so that she won the Glades County District Teacher of the Year award. The district presented her with the award at its Golden Apple Celebration last month.
鈥淚鈥檓 one of those rare kids who has known what they鈥檝e wanted to be since I was little,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淕od was placing that in my heart before I even could understand the gravity that it was going to be my job one day.鈥�
Garcia鈥檚 West Glades colleagues chose her as the school鈥檚 best teacher to advance her to the next round of selection for district of the year. She wrote an essay, submitted her r茅sum茅 and was observed in the classroom before the district selected her to receive its top honor.
She鈥檚 humbled by the recognition and credits her PBA education for her success so early in her career.
鈥淧BA was amazing. I felt so prepared my first year of teaching,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淔rom the beginning, we were in the classroom teaching.鈥�
Every semester, Garcia and her fellow early elementary education majors had hands-on opportunities in public or private schools. She taught in kindergarten classrooms at Frontier Elementary School in Loxahatchee, Florida and Jupiter Christian School in Jupiter, Florida.
At the time, she and her peers complained about how long their lesson plans had to be. Now, she鈥檚 grateful for School of Education & Behavioral Studies鈥� high standards.
鈥淲hen you get to real life, you feel so prepared,鈥� she said.
She strives to bring a positive attitude and patience to work every day, not knowing what her students went through before they arrived at school. Some of Garcia鈥檚 students see her more than they see their parents, she said.
In her essay, she described the trust her students demonstrate when they look to her to 鈥渓ove them, cheer for them, wipe their tears, clean a boo-boo and open up the magical doors of learning.鈥� She encourages them to show kindness and never give up, even when it鈥檚 challenging.
Garcia concluded: 鈥淭he chance I am given to empower 5-year-olds with all of those opportunities inspires me to uphold the title of being an educator with joy and purpose.鈥�
