Warzecha returns to district as superintendent

A familiar face to the school district returned to the halls of Tea Area this school year.

Tonia Warzecha returned to the district in her new role as superintendent on July 1. For the past four years, she has served as the superintendent at Dakota Valley. Before that, she spent 10 years with Tea Area, first as a kindergarten teacher, then a second grade teacher and then as the curriculum and assessment director.

“Tea Area is a great district and having been here for 10 years and having laid the foundation for so many things that we’re doing now, I feel incredible pride in where we are today. In the time that I was gone, in those four years, all of the leadership and the teachers and the staff and everybody has just done such an incredible job continuing and growing and keeping such high standards for each other and the students and the district and the community,” Warzecha said. “It’s really remarkable. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”

Her teaching career began in Tracy, Minn., as a kindergarten teacher from 1995-1997. Then she taught second grade in Mankato, Minn., from 1997-2011 before teaching in Tea from 2011-2021.

Warzecha is happy that she and her husband moved back to Tea to be a part of the school and the community. Their three grown children along with their spouses and five grandchildren live in the area.

“It’s wonderful to do what I love and be in education and be close to our family and get to be grandma and mom and friend. It’s the best of both worlds,” she said.

Warzecha looks forward to continuing the great work of the district and to keep the momentum going.

“I’m just really looking forward to working with such a phenomenal team here and in such a great community. They all work really hard. They’re very talented,” she said.

Warzecha said the district is a tremendous district and a leader in the state. She does not have any big changes in mind as she gets started as superintendent.

“My goal will be to keep the momentum going and strive to always be looking for areas where we can improve to continue to meet growth, to continue to meet students’ needs, to respond to what our community is needing and to respond what South Dakota public education needs,” she said. “We are all in in the pursuit of excellence. It’s an exciting time to be a Titan.”