09/02/2026
💙💛 WHY PUBLIC ED WEDNESDAY 💛💙
In Honor of “I Love WV Public Schools”
Today, we’re proud to share Why Public Ed with Tonya Ferguson, CTE Director & Associate Principal at Philip Barbour High School.
“I love public education because I believe every student deserves equal access to a quality education, regardless of where they live, their circumstances, or the challenges they may face.”
For Tonya, public education is personal. Her mom was a Barbour County educator throughout her entire career, giving Tonya a firsthand look at the difference an educator can make in the life of a child and an entire community.
A proud graduate of Philip Barbour High School, Tonya’s husband and both of their children are also PBHS graduates. After moving away for nine years for work, their family chose to come home — because they wanted their children to grow up in a small community surrounded by people who knew them, cared about them, and wanted to see them succeed.
Today, after more than 30 years in education, Tonya has the privilege of serving Barbour County students as the CTE Director and Associate Principal at Philip Barbour High School.
“I still love what I do and, most importantly, I still believe in the importance of public education. We get to serve ALL kids, and I believe every student deserves the opportunity to find their strengths, discover their path, and have people in their corner along the way. Not every student’s path will look the same, and that’s exactly how it should be.”
Tonya’s love for Barbour County Schools runs deep. From being the daughter of a Barbour County educator, to a student, a parent, and now an educator herself, public education has been part of her life for generations.
We are grateful for educators like Tonya who continue to believe in the power of public education and in the potential of every student. There truly is something special about a small community that comes together for its kids. 💙💛
Thank you, Tonya, for loving our students, our schools, and our community!