The former N.C. teacher of the year will start her new role June 26 at the nonprofit that strives to create pathways for success for every child.
Tyronna Hooker G’09, who was named the 2011-12 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, has been named executive director of Alamance Achieves.
“Tyronna has a passion for children and education, which she combines with extensive professional experience in classroom teaching, social work and education policy,” said Mac Williams, president of the Alamance Chamber and a member of Alamance Achieves executive committee, which hired Hooker. “She understands the collaborative approach we need to strengthen the grid of community resources to help prepare children for school, ensure they succeed and support them as they embark on careers.”
Launched in fall 2016, the nonprofit is part of the national StriveTogether Network. It connects different stakeholders in the community to focus on four key goals to ensure children are on track for success:
- Every child is well, healthy and ready for school.
- Every child succeeds in school.
- Every student graduates, prepared for post-secondary learning.
- Every learner is on track to achieve career goals.
Hooker originally pursued a career in criminal justice after graduating from N.C. Central University. She worked as a correctional officer and then a parole officer for the state, and as a child protective services investigator for the Alamance County Department of Social Services. While serving as a therapeutic foster parent for the Elon Homes for Children, a child described to her the difficulties he faced in school as a result of how the public school system was set up. She vowed to make a difference and earned her teaching certificate in 2005 and her master’s of education degree from Elon University in 2009.
For the past four years, Hooker has worked for Teach For America, helping school systems in 16 school districts recruit, hire and train new teachers. She has also worked as an adjunct education professor at N.C. Central University.
“In my career, I’ve seen that kind of positive impact that education can have in children’s lives,” said Hooker, who delivered the keynote address to graduates of Elon’s education master’s program in 2012. “Unfortunately, I’ve also seen what happens when that positive impact is absent. Alamance Achieves is a great opportunity to strengthen collaboration in Alamance County and ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
Hooker worked at Graham Middle School as a teacher for 10 years, and was named the ABSS Teacher of the Year for 2010-11. She advanced to become a regional finalist and then was named North Carolina Teacher of the Year for the 2011-12 academic year. In that role, she served as an advisor for the State Board of Education, traveled the state as a representative of the teaching profession, and served on education committees and task forces.
Hooker starts her new position June 26.