A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Tonya Beghtel

A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Tonya Beghtel

Tonya Beghtel is a special education teacher for Little Learners Preschool, located in the Boston Building, LaPorte Community School Corporation/South LaPorte Special Education Co-Operative. She currently specializes in teaching classes for 3 and 4 year olds students with special needs. Beghtel began her teaching career in Kingsford Heights where she was employed as a substitute teacher. Little Learners then hired her as a long-term sub. As her work at the preschool extended into the long-term, she transitioned into being an on-contract teacher for the institution, an occupational path which did not come as a surprise to Beghtel.

“When I was a kiddo, I was always a teacher, whether it was in Bible school or just playing teacher. I even taught my neighbors math and reading,” said Beghtel. “I think teaching has always been a front runner for what I have wanted to do with my life.”

Beghtel’s debut at Little Learners was her instruction in the inclusion class. While prepared to teach general education, Beghtel worked towards an emergency license and returned to school to gain the qualifications needed to teach special education. Since then, she’s found the work to be personally rewarding.

“It has become a passion for me to help these kiddos that have developmental delays to succeed in the classroom,” said Beghtel.

Because many of the children Beghtel teaches are nonverbal, she uses strategies, such as picture icons and communication devices. She finds that these methods are both effective and, as a result, moving.

“Just to see these kiddos be able to use pictures to talk to us, I think that it touches my heart,” said Beghtel. “It's not something that they're able to do at first, but once you teach them, they can ask for help. I think that's been one of the biggest things for me–giving these kiddos their voice.”

Another teaching method/strategy that she has gained expertise in, and uses daily in the classroom, is Structured Teacch. Teaming these teaching styles together (pictures and Structured Teacch) ignites self-confidence and independence in her students daily.

“At the beginning of the day, they get a bracelet with a picture icon, and they know where to go in the room by looking at that bracelet,” said Beghtel. “It helps these 3 and 4 year olds become independent in the classroom. It's been a great teaching strategy.”

For Beghtel, the beginning of the day starts at 7:45 AM, while it begins at 8 in the morning for her children, leaving her fifteen minutes to prepare the classroom. Fortunately, many hands make light work, and Beghtel has two paraprofessionals who serve alongside her. She credits the success of the classroom as a team effort, noting her work partners’ responsiveness.

“I have a great team that works in my classroom. It’s like a family to me,” said Beghtel. “If one of us doesn't see something, the other one sees, and they can take care of it. It’s almost as if we can read each other's minds. When we see something that needs to be done, we just give each other a look.”

Although particularly keen on helping children, Beghtel has other loves as well, one being animals. Along with her husband, she also shares her home with four cats and three dogs. Additionally, Beghtel has made room for many stray cats, which she plans on neutering and then re-releasing back into the community.

“It’s going to be exciting. I want feral cats to be able to still live out their lives,” said Beghtel.

Parallel to releasing the animals back into society, Beghtel also looks forward to releasing herself into nature. An avid hiker, she is currently training to walk twice over the Mackinac Bridge. This is the next natural challenge after having walked across the 5-mile-long bridge once last year, an experience which opened her eyes to the peculiar engineering of the structure.

“Once you get to the middle of the bridge, it starts swaying,” said Beghtel. “It’s a little crazy. I didn't realize that the bridge swayed that much. It was a little unnerving, but my husband made me realize that everyone is swaying with you.”

Regardless of the activity, Beghtel is dedicated to service and helping others, a trait which she partially attributes to her church background.

“The church is all about spreading love, and that's what I really want to do,” said Beghtel. “I bring that into the classroom too. The one thing I want my kiddos to take away from my classroom is that they're loved. I think the church has definitely had a big influence on me with its values.”

Reciprocally, Beghtel brings this attitude with her to her current church, where she opened a clothing and food pantry to help those who are less fortunate. A new church with a new pastor, the spiritual home has benefitted from her activity and engagement, as have many others.

No matter where she serves, however, her heart remains dedicated to the children at Little Learners Preschool. She sees her work with special education as her vocation and lifelong pursuit.

“It's wonderful when you find that one special thing or the two special things that help the kiddos be successful,” said Beghtel. “I don't think I want to do anything else for the rest of my career but teach these kiddos. I just really love them so much.”