Sometimes the biggest blessings come from taking the biggest chances.
For Alyssa Bird, becoming a Tinora Ram meant leaving behind nearly everything that was familiar.
After graduating from Napoleon and then spending 11 years teaching sixth grade there, Alyssa knew the school, the staff, the students and the curriculum. Napoleon was comfortable. It was home.
But as her own children grew older, Alyssa began thinking about finding a school closer to her home in Continental. When Haley Sonnenberg told her about an opening at Tinora High School, Alyssa’s first reaction wasn’t exactly enthusiasm.
“I honestly blew it off at first and said, ‘Yea right!’ because high school intimidated me SO much!” she recalled.
Making the move meant more than changing schools. After 11 years with sixth graders, Alyssa knew her curriculum “like the back of my hand.” Suddenly, she would be learning new material, working with high school students and getting to know an entirely new group of teachers and administrators.
There were changes at home, too. Alyssa had been fortunate to have her parents care for her children while she taught at Napoleon. A new school meant finding new childcare and changing a routine her family had relied on for years.
When asked what made her most nervous about the move, her answer was simple: “Everything!”
But once she arrived at Tinora, something happened that she hadn’t expected.
People showed up for her.
She found notes on her desk wishing her a great start to the school year. Staff members left small gifts and trinkets to welcome her. Teachers introduced themselves in classrooms and hallways. Coworkers checked in through emails, texts, and visits to her room.
Then-Tinora High School Principal Alex Nafziger regularly stopped by to see how she was doing and held meetings with new staff members to make sure they had what they needed and were adjusting well. Superintendent Nicole Wells even took the time to send her a card welcoming her to the district.
“There were so many small gestures that, individually, may have seemed insignificant, but together, they made a tremendous impact,” Alyssa said. “Those little things added up in a big way and made me feel welcomed and supported from the very beginning.”
One person in particular helped make an unfamiliar place feel much less intimidating.
“Mrs. Flory, the other high school intervention specialist, was a God-send!” Alyssa said. “She helped me SO much through the transition and bent over backwards to make sure I was ok.”
The two quickly became a team, relying on one another throughout the school year. Alyssa knew she had found someone she could turn to whenever she needed help.
As she settled into high school, Alyssa also discovered something that surprised her about making the jump from sixth grade.
Kids are kids.
“They might be in different grades, have different hobbies, and are possibly taller than me now, but they are still students who need help and guidance.”
That belief is at the center of why Alyssa loves being a special education teacher.
“Everyone learns differently and at different times,” she said. “I love when something finally clicks for a student and it makes sense to them. You also never know what the day is going to bring and that is half of the fun! Helping students day to day is a blessing and they make me love what I do.”
That work recently earned Alyssa recognition she never saw coming.
She learned that she had been nominated for Defiance County Special Education Teacher of the Year and then learned she had been selected for the honor.
Her initial response?
“I think you emailed the wrong person!” 😂
Alyssa didn’t even know the Special Education Teacher of the Year award existed, so being nominated, much less chosen, came as a complete surprise.
“I was honored that Mr. Nafziger thought so highly of my teaching abilities to take time to nominate me,” she said.
The nomination from Alex Nafziger, her former high school principal, brought Alyssa’s journey at Tinora full circle. He had been one of the administrators checking in and encouraging her as she navigated those uncertain first days. Now, he was recognizing the teacher she had become.
And somewhere along the way, the school Alyssa had once been terrified to join became a place that felt like home.
She describes Tinora as a community where people genuinely care about one another. Teachers ask students how they did at their sporting events. Coworkers ask about weekend plans and actually want to hear the answer. When someone asks how you’re doing, Alyssa says, it’s a genuine question.
“The small town vibes might not be for everyone, but I love it!” she said. “The community is tight-knit, and they look out for each other.”
One seemingly small moment has stayed with her.
Heidi Bell once sent an encouraging email to staff after hearing the song “Lemonade” by Forrest Frank on her way to work. The message about making the best of whatever the day brings arrived at a time when Alyssa needed the encouragement.
“Something so small meant the world to me,” Alyssa said. “I truly believe that God had a plan in bringing me to Tinora.”
Eventually, Alyssa’s experience at Tinora began influencing more than her own career.
When it came time to choose where her son, Conner, would begin kindergarten, she said Tinora was a “no brainer.”
“I found a school that fills my bucket day in and day out,” she said. “Their positivity, energy, and drive is amazing, and I knew that would flow into Conner’s Kindergarten experience.”
For someone who admits she isn’t usually one to step outside of her comfort zone, Alyssa now looks back at that decision very differently.
“I have realized what I could have been missing out on if I hadn't taken that risk,” she said. “Tinora’s staff members are there for you on your worst days, best days, and everywhere in between.”
What began as an intimidating career change ultimately gave Alyssa something she hadn't expected: confidence in herself, a community for her family and a renewed love for her profession.
When asked what she would have missed if she had stayed where she was comfortable, Alyssa didn't have to think very hard.
“I would have missed out on SO much! I found my people. I found confidence in myself and my teaching abilities. And best of all, I fell in love with teaching again.”
Maybe that’s the best way to describe Alyssa Bird’s journey to Tinora. She took a chance on something unfamiliar and discovered just how much was waiting for her on the other side.
“I’m glad I became a Ram because I found a team that supports, appreciates, and accepts.”
