Chestnut brings passion for education to her position on state school board

Dr. Tonya Chestnut took over the duties as a member of the Alabama Board of Education from District 5 in January at the height of the Covid pandemic.

In spite of the difficulties, she is making every effort to visit the more than 20 school systems in her 18-county district, the largest geographically in the state, and to complete those visits before the end of the first semester. She expects her area to increase even further after the state completes its redistricting plan.

Chestnut, a Selma native made her first visit as a state school board member to Demopolis Friday, stopping at all four school campuses and asking Supt. Tony Willis and the principals what would benefit Demopolis. “There’s nothing better than to talk to the people that are there.”

Chestnut’s district covers both rural and metropolitan school districts. What’s common among all the rural systems is the lack of internet accessibility, which became evident during the pandemic, she said. In many instances the school systems, teachers and parents were not prepared.

“That was probably one of the most dramatic experiences for school districts because we were forced into virtual learning,” said Chestnut.

Because of the coronavirus, state assessments have fallen across the state, especially in rural communities, and create a “challenge to get the scores we really, really need,” she continued.

A major concern is attracting teachers to rural communities. “Before now it was almost unheard of having to have elementary school teachers with an emergency certificate,” she said. “We’ve got to be creative in attracting teachers.”

Finding qualified teachers also is a concern at the state level. Superintendents are coming up with ideas to “grow their own” by promoting a teaching career in their own communities.

“Even in the metropolitan areas we are now dealing with teacher shortage,” she said.

Often the only news coming out of a school system has been negative, but Chestnut said she has yet to visit one that didn’t have lots of positive things going on. “That’s the one thing that is encouraging to me.”

Her plan is to start a Road Show spotlighting the positive things that are going on in each school system in her district.

An experienced educator, Chestnut holds her B.S. in education from Jacksonville State, master’s from Alabama State, Education Specialist from Auburn and doctorate from Concordia. In addition to being a teacher, assistant principal, principal and central office administrator, she owned Professional Learning Consultant Services and worked with the DOE staff. She also is an ordained minister.

“It’s one thing to represent people based on your own experiences. It’s another thing when you’re actually intentional about getting involved. That was the one thing I committed to when I decided to run for this position,” she said. “I want those school districts that I represent to know they have a voice at the table.”

Chestnut, as one of two new members on the state school board, has found the members cooperative and dedicated.

“We are very intentional in supporting one another and encouraging one another. They have received me with open arms,” she said. “There is one common thing we agree on, and that’s we want what’s best for children.”

At some point the state school board will need to look at the level of support provided by the local communities to the school system, she said. “There has to be a way to make sure that funding is more equitable rather than equal,” especially for systems with few residents and little industrial tax base.

“If we’re going to be assessed equally, we need to be funded equitably,” she stressed, so that every student is ready for work or higher education graduation.

“At the end of the day I’m an educator that is passionate about education,” she said.