Teacher Spotlight: Tonya Roberts

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The art of teaching is one that is arguably the most important in the world. When we are very young, we rely on our parents or guardians to teach us basic motor skills, how to eat and how to take care of ourselves. As we gain independence, our teachers in life guide us through discovering the world around us, mastering new skills and habits along the way. Even the most experienced and prestigious professions in the world are only possible with the help of educators. This week, we spotlight the efforts and dedications of one of the great educators at Aucilla Christian Academy, Tonya Roberts.
Roberts has been a teacher for an incredible 30 years, specializing in primarily elementary grade levels. Her education career began at Pinetta Junior High School, where she worked K-8th grade for about three years. From there, she moved to Aucilla Christian Academy, where she has taught ever since. While her experience at ACA has brought her from K-5th grade and then K-4th grade over the years, she now teaches 1st grade students, and it is an endeavor she enjoys immensely.
“In all my years as an educator,” she says, “I have never had a day where I dreaded coming to work. Working with kids keeps you young. I just love their outlook on life, they are so positive and hopeful.”
Among the many highlights of working with children throughout her career, Roberts says that perhaps one of the most rewarding things is being able to see a student's progress as they complete the school year.
“I love seeing how they grow in a year,” she says, smiling. “You can really see their progress, see them grow up! Usually by the end of the year most of them are reading. When they come in, they have just finished Kindergarten and can maybe read a few words here and there, but by the end of the year as first graders, most of them can read just about anything you put in front of them. I really enjoy seeing them progress, and first grade is such an important year for reading and phonics.”
The first step to being a good teacher, she muses, is that you have to actually like kids! This has always been an easy mindset for Roberts, who says she knew she wanted to work with kids ever since she was a teenager, working with children with her church.
“As a teacher, you are spending a good portion of your days with these kids. It's kind of important that you at least like being around them!” She laughs before continuing, “A good teacher needs to be pretty flexible, too. Sometimes you may plan a day to go one way, and it goes in an entirely different direction. Being able to quickly adjust as needed is important. It's also important for a teacher to have balance, and be firm but loving with their students. I want all of my students to know that I love them even if I need to correct them. Kids need to know that you really care about them as individuals, I think it goes a long way in their education.”
With a cheerful, energetic and enthusiastic approach in the classroom, Roberts strives to make learning fun for her class, and stresses the importance especially in reading and phonics. Staying true to the Aucilla mantra, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14,” Roberts says she also strives to instill an understanding and love of God in her students.
“I work at a Christian school for a reason,” she states, “and I want all of my students to learn that they are loved by God, and are each unique and don't have to be like everyone else. That God made them exactly as they are and loves them exactly as they are. In that, I also want to teach them that school is a fun place to be, and to encourage them to work hard on their lessons, not just because I tell them to, but because God wants us to try our best in all things.”
For Roberts, the rewards of teaching easily outweigh the challenges. Her 30 years in education have shown an obvious increase in screen time with younger students, and she admits that this can often make it difficult to hold a child's attention. Roberts takes great efforts to make sure her lessons are fun and engaging, and says that it makes it all worth it to see the students catch on to a topic or lesson that they had previously struggled with.
“When you see a kid struggling with a certain skill, and they finally get it,” says Roberts, “and you get to see that lightbulb moment for them, it really makes it all worth it. To hear these kids really engaged in their bible lessons, and talking about God's word and asking questions, it's really a great feeling. As teachers, we plant seeds, and hope those seeds will stay with them.”
The responsibility of being a teacher is something that Robert takes very seriously, ever since her own experience as a first-time mother, dropping off her 4-year-old son at school for the first time.
“I remember thinking at the time,” she recalls, “that I am leaving my precious little four year old boy with a stranger who will become such an important figure to him. As teachers, parents are entrusting us with a very important little person, and that's a big responsibility. I knew what kind of teacher I wanted for my child, and I want to be that same teacher for these kids and their parents.”
30 years into her career as an educator, and Roberts says she is still going strong and has no plans to change careers. Laughingly, she admits, “Everything is, of course, in God's control, but I have no plans to leave, and plan on staying until I retire. I've been told that when it's time for me to call it quits, I'll 'just know,' but for now, I'm taking it year by year. For as long as I enjoy what I do, love the kids, have the energy for it, and feel like I'm doing a good job, I'm happy to stay right where I am.”
When she isn't teaching, Roberts and her husband of 37 years like to spend time together with their two sons and three grandchildren. The family attends Central Baptist Church, where Roberts serves as both the Music Director and church pianist.