Dr. Tonya Breland is a dynamic and visionary leader with a personal mission to make a difference in the lives of others. Deeply committed to justice and equity, she brings a powerful combination of lived experience, research, and leadership across local and state levels to help organizations confront challenges, strengthen capacity, and inspire transformation. Beyond her organizational leadership, Dr. Breland has dedicated her life’s work to purpose activation—empowering women leaders in particular to embrace their gifts, step into their calling, and lead with clarity and confidence. Through her commitment to helping women align their leadership with their purpose, she equips them to live on purpose, lead with justice, and create lasting impact in their communities and beyond.

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A nationally respected educator, Dr. Breland is a proud recipient of the prestigious National Milken Educator Award. Her career includes distinguished service as a school and district leader, Director of Professional Learning, and Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Education. She is the Founder, President, and CEO of TESO Consulting Group, where she leads efforts to transform organizations by delivering services that cultivate a culture of continuous improvement leading to meaningful outcomes.
 

Dr. Breland lends her expertise to several impactful boards, currently serving on the
Rowan University Foundation Board, and as Chair of Eskolta School Research and
Design and Vice President of the New Jersey Tutoring Corps. She is also the current President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Central New Jersey Chapter. Her previous appointments include advisory and leadership roles with Women of Color in Pharma, theNew Jersey School Boards Association Equity Council, the Diverse and Learner ReadyTeacher Workforce Committee, and the Interagency Taskforce to Combat Youth Bias, in addition to chairing the Statewide Professional Learning Committee.

An accomplished author, Dr. Breland has written Fight to Make It Happen: 6 Power
Principles to Fulfilling Your Purpose & Living Your Dreams, the children's chapter
book Mykayla Mitchell Moves Away, and co-authored both an E-book for
Organizational Leaders and her newest release, Today's Classroom: Practical
Strategies for Nurturing Greatness in Your Diverse Learners.

Dr. Breland is a proud alumna of Howard University, holds a Master’s from Nova
Southeastern University, and earned her Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation from
New York University.

She has been married to her husband for 35 years, and is the mother of two adult children, and is the proud G-ma of her wonderful grandson. She enjoys singing, taking long walks, listening to books and traveling abroad.