Milken Educators: Where Are They Now? (Part 2)

Tonya Breland (NJ '06)

Then: 

Tonya Breland was a fourth grade teacher at Fountain Woods Elementary School in Burlington Township, NJ, at the time of her award in 2006, where she piloted numerous innovative and effective programs. She volunteered to start a new social studies program, one component of which specifically targeted English as a Second Language (ESL) students, and was selected by the district to pilot a curriculum reading program. She later became principal of Fountain Woods, and in that role helped remove the school from the state's list of schools in need of improvement. 

Now: 

Breland now leads her own educational consulting firm, Teach Educators and Scholars Organization, LLC (TESO) in Burlington, NJ. The mission is personal to Breland: to help students succeed. She does this by providing professional development and consulting services to schools and organizational organizations and tutoring services to students K-12.

In her own words: 

“Winning the Milken Award validated what I did as a classroom teacher. Although I felt I was doing my job by making a difference for my students, I didn’t necessarily think I was any more special than my colleagues. The Milken Award shone a light that empowered me to do even more in and for my profession. It helped me feel I could effectuate change at a broader level.

“Since winning the Milken Award, I’ve served in the capacity of principal, where I had the unique pleasure of turning around a school in need of improvement and removing it from the state of New Jersey’s list of schools in need of improvement. I have since started my own educational consulting firm, Teach Educators & Scholars Organization, LLC, where I empower other educators to reach their full potential as they help students reach theirs. My passion is to help others fulfill their potential and I do this through speaking, training and consulting with schools, educational organizations, and others. I currently serve as co-chair for the State Professional Learning Committee (SPLC) with the NJ Department of Education. We advise the commissioner of education on issues related to professional learning for the state.  

“I’ve written a children’s chapter book, Mykayla Mitchell Moves Away, a story for K-3rd graders about friendship. I’m currently in the process of penning a professional empowerment book to help others live their passion and reach their highest potential as they make things happen in their professional or personal lives.

“As a consultant and trainer, I have an opportunity to positively influence more educators and inspire them to raise the bar for students and help students succeed. I am energized by fulfilling this mission. Winning the Milken Award has opened up a world of possibilities that I never dreamed existed for me.”