White Rock School

White Rock Elementary School is our next stop on our Meet the Principals tour across the McDonald County School System. It's all part of our way of honoring our principals during National Principals Month.

To say White Rock Elementary School Principal Tonya Cox is living a dream would be an understatement.
“My parents told me that as a five-year-old coming home from my very first day of school, I told them that I wanted to be a teacher. I never changed my mind. Being an educator has been a lifelong dream for me,” she said. “Instead of saying, “I have to go to work today,” I say, “I get to go to my calling today.” I have the best job in the world. I am and have been truly blessed.”
Cox is in her 28th year in education. She’s served as Principal at White Rock for the last five years and says the school has grown into a community she’s proud to call home.
“Our school is extraordinary because of the amazing students, parents, community members and staff who bring it to life each day. Their energy, love and passion for learning is infectious,” Cox said. “Our main goal is to make our school the students home away from home. They must know they are safe, secure and loved.”
Along with giving her students those feelings of safety and security, Cox says she and her school community strive to make sure kids have a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.
“Teaching children the importance of working hard and being kind is the core of what we do. This is mainly done through modeling, thinking kindly of everyone, pushing negative thoughts away and allowing positive thoughts to take over, and consistently having high expectations for students, parents, community members, and staff - all stakeholders. It truly takes a village to raise a child up right,” she said.
As far as her own family, Cox and her husband have six kids, eight grandchildren, and six dogs. When she’s not at school, she says she loves to spend her free time learning, reading, hiking, cooking, organizing, and spending a lot of time with her pack of dogs and family and friends. When she is at school, she says she always counts her blessings.
“Being able to see and work with the future is my biggest joy,” Cox said. “I enjoy watching the students grow over the years from preK to junior high. They arrive as 4-6-year-olds and leave ready for high school. Seeing their smiles as they arrive each day for school is wonderful. One of my greatest joys is seeing the progress that results when a teacher goes the extra mile to intervene on behalf of students. I get joy from the staff’s love for our students and their boundless enthusiasm. I value and appreciate the parents' targeted focus on their children and their love for their kids all bring me joy.”