Decatur teacher reflects on 33 years of education as she retires

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — After more than three decades shaping young minds, Special Education teacher Tonya Bales is retiring — and reflecting on a career filled with love, laughter, and life-changing moments.

Bales has spent the past 33 years in education, starting as a student teacher in Decatur before accepting her first job with Hammond schools in a special education classroom. She remained there for 23 years before joining Baum Elementary, where she’s taught for the past 11 years.

>>> STEM Minute: Pana High School physics class takes on mouse trap cars.

“I love it,” she said, fighting back emotion. “The kids make me laugh every day. It’s never a dull moment.”

Her passion for helping students who often need the most support began early, babysitting and working in summer recreation programs in Sullivan.

While education has changed over the years, Bales said the joy of watching students learn and encourage one another never gets old. “When they cheer each other on, it’s just the sweetest thing,” she added.

>>> IL dual language education expansion heads to Senate floor.

This final year has been one of her best. Bales told WAND News. This year she focused less on paperwork and more on soaking in the laughter, the classroom hugs, and the love her students freely give — even those who aren’t in her class.

“I’ll miss the little things, like standing in the hallway and hearing a student say ‘Good morning’ or giving me a hug,” she said.

Bales plans to travel and stay active, but when asked if she plans find her way back into a classroom she told WAND News, “I don’t think I’m done."

Bales said her career has also been shaped by the strong support of teaching assistants, fellow educators, and administrators over the years. Her advice to future educators is simple: stick with it. “The first couple years are the hardest, but it gets better,” she said. “And it is so rewarding when you see kids succeed.”