The Civic Music Association has named Tonya Adair, principal at MPS’ Washington High School of Information Technology, its 2014 ‘Outstanding Educational Administrator of the Year.’ The honor is given annually to educational administrators who have “shown outstanding support for music education and teachers of music.”

Tonya C. Adair, M.Ed. is Principal at Washington High School of Information Technology in the Milwaukee Public Schools where she has created an atmosphere of excellence through building relationships with community, parents and alumni. Music has been an inspiration in her life since childhood, and in the three years she has been at Washington, she has revived their discontinued music program and incorporated dance instruction into the curriculum. Adair has also been recognized for her efforts to restore arts programming at the school. This past year she formed a partnership with Arts@Large to provide art experiences for 9th graders.

Prior to becoming principal at Washington, Adair was Assistant Principal at Milwaukee High School of the Arts. In 2006, she received the Wisconsin Women on the Move Educator Award from the Top Ladies of Distinction, an international women’s service organization. Adair earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Grambling State University, her Master’s degree in Education Administration and Leadership from Alverno College, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Language and Literacy at Cardinal Stritch University.