Health Assistant, Moshannon Valley Elementary School

Tonya Lewis loves to see students at Moshannon Valley Elementary School get moving instead of sitting in front of a video game or computer. To help students get an additional 30 minutes of physical activity during the school day, she started a club in which students with special needs are paired with their peers to assist in yoga and walking. This gives students a sense of belonging to the club and school, and also builds relationships among students.

Tonya goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities as a school nurse. Her health initiatives include publishing the school wellness letter, working with health teachers to plan healthy living lessons and starting a ‘Get Up and Move’ project, which encourages students to walk for at least 15 minutes after getting off the bus.

Two of Tonya’s own grandchildren attend Moshannon Valley Elementary School and benefit from her passion and hard work.