LI Teacher Wins Kristen Bell's Instagram Contest To Help Kids

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead teacher won an Instagram contest by actress Kristen Bell — and now donations of school supplies are pouring in from around the country.

Tonya Gonzalez, a second-year bilingual fourth grade teacher at Riverhead’s Phillips Avenue Elementary School, said when she responded to actress Bell’s “Feature Teacher of the Week” Instagram contest in December, she never thought she would be selected.

“I couldn’t believe when she reached out to me at the end of March and said, ‘Are you ready?’” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez was ready: On March 28, Bell posted an Instagram message encouraging her fans to send school supplies to Gonzalez. The response was more than the Riverhead teacher could have hoped for, she said.

"Today’s amazing teacher is Tonya Gonzalez from Long Island!" Bell wrote. "Here’s her story: 'I have been teaching for two years in a Title 1 school on Long Island, New York as a 4th grade bilingual teacher. These two years have been the best years of my life! I absolutely love what I do and my students have made me a stronger and more positive person. No matter what is happening at home or in their lives, they come into my classroom with a huge smile ready to start the day.

"My school is a supportive and fun-filled diverse family. My entire class consists of 27 English Language Learners with many being new to the United States. The population is about 70% Hispanic, 30% African American, and Caucasian. Their journeys here are an inspiration and one of the many reasons I advocate for them. Supplies are very limited in the classroom and my students are struggling to get by at home. Many of our students come from low-income families and qualify for low and reduced lunch, and for some the school is their main source of food. My school tries their best to provide food and resources to our families. I try my best to support my students in whatever they need — school supplies or snacks. Since I teach a bilingual classroom, students have the opportunity to express their knowledge of reading and writing in both English and Spanish," Gonzalez said. "This opportunity would help me provide books for my classroom library, especially in Spanish. This would help me create a multicultural diverse environment in the classroom. I teach my students to be proud of who they are and where they are from. Any help would be amazing!”

Bell added: "Let’s help Tonya and her students and send books and snacks galore their way . . . Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love you guys."

The response has been off the charts, Gonzalez said.

“Boxes are still pouring in,” Gonzalez said after receiving more than 150 packages during the first week of April. Each box contained school supplies listed on Gonzalez’s Amazon Wish List that she created as part of the “Feature Teacher” contest.

“This really is a recognition for my students,” she said. “They deserve this. They work so very hard.”

Among the school supplies Gonzalez received were more than 50 chapter books, translated into Spanish for her students, as well as games, gardening supplies and an incubator for chicks. Every box also came with a special note of support addressed to Gonzalez and her students, the district said.

In addition to the boxes, NBC donated $1,000 to Phillips Avenue as part of the contest. Gonzalez said a plan for the money is being drawn up.

“My students are so grateful,” she said, noting that all of her students are working on writing thank-you notes that will be sent to all of the gracious donors.