Tonda Gainey Email and Phone Number

Before I obtained my teaching degree, I substituted for nearly 18 years at all grade levels. It enabled me to know which area and grade level I was most interested in teaching. While I did not pursue a special education degree, my first few years of teaching have been teaching Special Education Pre-K. I obtained my Pre-K certification after accepting the position. I believe this was in many ways one of the best things that could have happened as far as an opportunity to grow and learn as a teacher. Working with special needs children has exposed me to a variety of strategies and differentiation at a level I would not have experienced had a gone directly into a regular education classroom. It has also prepared me to be able to work with any special needs children that I should have in the future in a regular education classroom. I have decided not to pursue a SPED degree, so this will be my last year teaching in special education. During college I received a scholarship to study abroad in Ireland for three weeks. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I have since then traveled twice to Germany. I love visiting Europe and experiencing different cultures. My journeys are something I hope to share with my students. I was elected as a Student Governor while attending Columbia State Community College. I was also selected to serve on the International Study Abroad Committee while there. I was a member of two honor societies while attending college.