Tonya Whitaker

About

Welcome to my online teaching portfolio. My name is Tonya Renee Andris Whitaker. I was born in Houston, Texas, and reared in Port Arthur, Texas; but, I now reside in Plano, Texas. Professionally, I am a former newspaper journalist and copy editor; I also taught college reading and writing at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, during the fall 2013 and 2014 semesters. I earned an MA in English from Texas Woman’s University in Denton in May 2015. My hope is that this blog inspires you to thrust forward in your desire to become the best writer possible. Feel free to contact me at twhitaker@twu.edu if you need assistance during your journey.

Freedom of the press

I began my journalism career as a sophomore in high school at Thomas Jefferson in Port Arthur, Texas. I continued reporting as a staff member for The University Press at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Lamar is where I earned a B.S. in Sociology in 1997. In 1998, I obtained my first professional journalism job; I worked as a copy editor for The Port Arthur News. Two years later, in 2000, I joined the “big leagues” by earning a sports copy editing position with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. I moved back to community journalism in 2003 when I became a sports copy editor and reporter for The Brazosport Facts in Clute, Texas. No one ever knows where Clute is located. Clute is approximately 45 minutes south of Houston on 288; I hope this helps. I have also worked as a copy editor, reporter, and desk editor for The Orange Leader and The Huntsville Item.