#MNPSVoices: Tondaleya Jobe, Pennington Elementary School

From the Metro Nashville Public Schools:

February 4, 2021

#MNPSVoices: Tondaleya Jobe, Pennington Elementary School

Pennington Elementary School is a visual treat. Academics are the school’s top priority. But there is no denying the student body enjoys creative visual art displays as they navigate the hallways.

The person responsible for their visual delight is 31-year MNPS veteran Tondaleya Jobe.

Jobe’s official capacity is a paraprofessional. However, like most support personnel, she wears many “hats’’ that benefit the school. In fact, Jobe might just spend more hours at the school than anyone: In the evenings, she is also a member of Pennington’s essential custodial team.

Pennington’s principal, Jackie Kinzer, shared her thoughts about how important Jobe is to her administration team and the school’s success. This is the second school where they’ve worked together.

“We would not be a strong school without our support staff,” Kinzer said. “Ms. Jobe is a great paraprofessional. She uses her personal skills and her artistic skills to make our building look great while educating the children. That shows she is a part of the team. This VOICES feature is an amazing recognition for a support staff person.”

Jobe’s passion for her profession was born from her need to have a paraprofessional when she began school.

“My experience of having loving, caring teachers throughout my educational journey was impactful on my career path,” she said. “I had teachers that cared. Now I am giving back what was given to me.”

Jobe, a native Nashvillian and Pearl High School alum, comes from a large family of educators. It appears her career path would inevitably lead to teaching, although her bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University is in studio art. Her family’s history of teachers is impressive. Her aunt was named Outstanding Principal of Tennessee as the principal of Tom Joy Elementary School, and several other family members serve as teachers throughout the state, including Jobe’s son, an MNPS alum of East High School, who has taught with his mom at Pennington Elementary.

Jobe did not give up on her passion for art. She found a way to share her creative skills throughout the school. Her goal is always to add an educational component and interactive opportunity to engage students.

Thanks to Ms. Jobe and Ms. Martin for putting together these wonderful displays to celebrate Black History Month. #pennington615 pic.twitter.com/XRxMMwVTTi
— Pennington Elementary (@pennpanthers615) February 12, 2020

Her award-winning creative displays have represented the school outside of the building, and Pennington has won or placed in the top three for the “Best Booth Award” at MNPS’s School Choice festivals.

Jobe also shares her art in the Nashville community with her photography business, “Portraits by Tondaleya.” She covers weddings and social events and is the dedicated photographer for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Nashville Alumnae Chapter. Jobe also offers photography workshops to children at her church.

Jobe’s weekday schedule typically consists of 12-hour days, so her downtime is spent enjoying a good Hallmark movie.

“I love happy endings,” she said, “and spending time with my family.”

This press release was produced by the Metro Nashville Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.