My First Grade Picture

About Ms. Tonya

My Current School Picture

My name is Tonya Cantrell. I am one of the first grade teachers at TNT Primary in New Tazewell. I have been married for fourteen years to my wonderful husband, Josh Cantrell. Josh is a Systems Administrator at Planet Systems in Dandridge. We live in the Springdale Community. While we do not have any children or pets, we do have a bunch of nieces & nephews !

My parents are Harold & Maggie West. I have a twin sister named Sonya. She is six minutes older than me, so that makes me the baby of the family. Sonya teaches second grade at Joseph Rogers Primary in Rogersville, Tennessee. My oldest sister, Wanda is the assistant principal at Springdale Elementary. My older brother, Allen is a truck driver. Wanda was 19 when my sister & I were born and Allen was 16.

I graduated from ETSU with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I was just one course away from adding a pre-school endorsement to my degree, but decided not to. I have my Masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction from UT. Eventually, I plan on getting and EDS Degree.

Some of my professional accomplishments include; creating & maintaining our school's website & my own classroom website (with Josh's help of course), being the site director of our after-school program, I have worked on the school yearbook for six years and was yearbook coordinator for two years. I have also written or collaborated on all of the grants TNT has been awarded. I was invited by the state appointed EE of Stony Fork School to organize and set up the classroom for the K-2 grade classes. ( I was paid to spend three days in Campbell County at their school to set up those classes.) I organize National Children's Book Week celebration and Dr. Suess' Birthday (Read Across America Day) each year. I was nominated to Who's Who Among America's Teachers for the 2004 - 2005 and the 2005 - 2006 school years, and Disney Teacher of the Year for the 2005 - 2006 school year.

When I am not at school, I like to swim, work on my flower beds, read magazines, look on the Internet, watch the decorating/organizing shows on TLC & HGTV, and SHOP! I collect dolls and have quite a large and varied collection. I also make "re-born" baby dolls from time to time. Hmmmm. what else can I tell you? Oh, I have a metal plate and two pins in my left ankle from a car accident when I was sixteen. Here are some of my favorites: Color: yellow; Food: macaroni & cheese; Candy: Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar; Drinks: Flavored Water; Game: Scrabble; Holidays: Christmas & Halloween; Music:all kinds; TV Show: What Not to Wear; TV Channels: TLC , HGTV, and Disovery Health.

This year will make the 10th year I have taught first grade at TNT, and I just love it! I am always looking for fun and interesting things to make learning fun for my students. I love acting silly with them & making memories at school.