PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — (Press Release) Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William (SBGPW) has selected Tawnya Soltis to serve as its Acting Executive Director beginning in January 2019.
Soltis has spent 32 years working in Greater Prince William serving the needs of teachers, students and parents, in both professional development initiatives for teachers and administrators, and as an award-winning elementary school principal for several local schools, including Old Bridge Elementary, and Montclair Elementary Schools.
Soltis’ appointment to Acting Director will replace Smart Beginnings’ first and founding Director, Kendra Kielbasa.
“After nearly seven years with Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William (SBGPW), it is time to transition to a different role,” Kielbasa said. “I’ve joined my husband in State College, Pennsylvania where he has relocated due to a new career opportunity. While I have a mix of emotions leaving the community I love, I am confident the forward momentum in our local early childhood initiatives will continue to grow at an increasing rate. Tawnya brings the experience, knowledge, and leadership that will help take this organization to the next level. She’s an asset to our community. I look forward to seeing SBGPW grow under her leadership.”
Larry Hughes, Chairman, SBGPW, expressed appreciation for Kielbasa’s work and said he is excited about working with Soltis.
“We welcome Tawnya to Smart Beginnings and wish to thank Kendra for her contributions,” he said. “We are grateful for Kendra’s relationship-building skills that have fostered numerous partnerships, collaborations, and have developed a team of highly adept volunteers who provide the backbone for our initiatives.”
Soltis began her career as an administrator in 1991, where she served in a professional development and training role within Prince William County Schools, and thereafter worked as an assistant principal at Triangle Elementary and West Gate Elementary. She served as principal from 2000 until her retirement in July 2017, first at Old Bridge Elementary and then at Montclair Elementary.
In her role as principal, Soltis was nominated for the Washington Post’s Distinguished Principal award in 2009, and received the Betty D. Covington Educator’s Award for Dedicated Service to the Youth of Prince William County in 2014. The schools that Soltis led as principal received multiple awards for being Distinguished Schools of Excellence.
Along with these academic achievements, Soltis is very proud of her work within the communities surrounding these elementary schools.
“I am so proud of the work our schools have done to support organizations like ACTS and SERVE, and I am thrilled to be able to continue to serve the community by supporting and leading Smart Beginnings,” said Soltis.
After retiring from the Prince William County School system in July 2017, Soltis continued her work with PWCS as a Leadership Mentor, and most recently, providing training to principals for school advisory councils.
She regularly volunteers in three elementary schools’ classrooms: Fannie Fitzgerald Elementary, Minnieville Elementary, and Covington-Harper Elementary. Soltis became aware of Smart Beginnings through the Books for Babies program at Novant Health in Manassas, and also through the work of Board Member Alison Nourse-Miller in supporting Books for Babies.
“I have had the opportunity throughout my career to support our elementary-aged students, and now I am so pleased to be able to support the next generation of children by providing opportunities and educational support for children from birth to age five and their families. I really believe that what Smart Beginnings provides is critical to the needs of early education in our community,” said Soltis.
