Current Roles and Context

For over twenty years, Simone Gonyea has served as a dedicated educator and leader within the Onondaga Nation, and her career continues to be shaped by her profound commitment to her community. As the first female administrator of the Onondaga Nation School, she played a vital role in educating Haudenosaunee children while preserving and promoting their language and cultural heritage. The school serves 100% native students preK-8, and is one of three contract schools that receives state funding on sovereign land. Simone, herself a graduate of the school, went on to be a classroom teacher there, educating her own children and becoming the first female administrator. As Simone reflected, her time with the Onondaga Nation School “was really the culminating moment of a life's work.”

About a year ago, Simone pivoted into a new role at the University of Rochester, where she now works as a Senior Health Project Coordinator in the Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Health Department. While she is now in a clinical field, her work is still within the Onondaga Nation community as she continues to work at the intersection of health care and indigenous rights. "There are treaty rights that need to be taken into consideration and advocated for," she explained. In this new role, Simone is focused on assisting families and students in navigating these complex issues, while also building strong relationships between all generations in the community. In a recent project, she shared how she “was able to sit with several elders... asking questions and listening to their stories”. She shared: 

“I see the benefit of building community and then also for them to be heard and to share that legacy. I guess I always think about how we're reaching down and we're reaching up. We're always pulling up our youths and we should always be reaching for what we have in our elders.”

Impact of TEL on Simone’s Leadership

For Simone, her TEL experience centered on forming deep connections and nurturing community. She reflected, “TEL was just a beautiful space for individuals to find likeness, some differences, and some challenges. That's the beauty of coming together in community and then really having that opportunity to hear from each other.”  The relationships Simone formed through TEL continued to nourish her as a leader when she was back in her context and needed people to “lean on.” Simone was also grateful for TEL’s annual summer conference at the Omega Institute in New York as a “luscious well of water that I could draw from every summer.”  TEL also gave her the tools and practices, the “touchstones,” that have helped her stay present and navigate the challenges. Simone reflected how she often turns to nature for insight, and noted how the rings of trees show you how some years are tougher than others but that “we are all connected in that way, and need those reminders to be gentle with ourselves” during difficult times.

Having a Transformative Impact on One’s Community

In her role as an indigenous educational leader, Simone sees her impact through the lens of community, emphasizing that her leadership is always about the "we" rather than the "I." She reflected, "We move in community, we are better together." Whether as the first female administrator of the Onondaga Nation School or now in her role within pediatric behavioral mental health, Simone has consistently embraced this collective approach. She noted that when there’s more community involvement, “it just makes things richer.” One of her guiding principles has been creating inclusive spaces that listen to the needs of the community, which she described as being a "humble and open listener." This openness and flexibility, something she also experienced at TEL, has allowed her to respond to challenges with humility and a spirit of continuous learning and improvement: "Planning it again, and making it better the next time."

Heartfelt Connections Made Through Community

One of the most powerful aspects of Simone’s TEL journey has been the deep, lasting bonds she made with fellow leaders, and the practices she learned to nurture. She explained, "One of the wonderful practices of TEL is that you slow down so that you can see someone else." This slowing down allowed her to form bonds based on authenticity and mutual support. While vulnerability can feel intimidating, Simone believes it is necessary for growth. She admitted, “There’s a piece that’s scary... it feels scary, it does.” However, she emphasized that the rewards are worth it. Simone has continued to foster relationships with her TEL cohort, some of whom remain close friends. As she described it, “We connect, and it’s being open to being that authentic self, that authentic person that you are.” Being part of TEL’s indigenous educational leaders affinity group has also provided Simone with a supportive space to collaborate and share experiences with others who understand the unique challenges of leading in Indigenous communities. She has found deep rewards and support in being able to relate to other leaders who face similar challenges.

Staying Resilient and Compassionate

Simone’s leadership is grounded in her practices of resilience and compassion. One of the ways she stays connected to these values is through a loving-kindness practice. "What was always wonderful as a leader was sending out that loving kindness, that manifestation," she explained. Whether in the classroom or as a leader of a school, this practice allowed her to view her work as a gift: "I have this precious gift that is being given to me." She approaches every student, every teacher, and every member of the community with an attitude of care and positivity. Nature also plays a key role in sustaining her resilience. Simone shared that getting into nature, taking a walk, or just stepping outside for a moment helps her reconnect with herself and stay grounded. "Remind yourself who you are," she advises, underscoring the importance of self-awareness and lightheartedness in leadership.

Read Great Books, Talk with Great People, Be in Inquiry

Simone shared some final words of inspiration by reflecting on the sources of her own inspiration these days. At TEL’s Mindfulness in Education Conference this past July, Simone was especially impacted by the talk given by Bayo Akomolafe, where he explored the meaning of “stillness” or being ‘still.’  She explained that "he brought up for me the importance of language," and how this sparked her interest in studying the word "still" in the Onondaga language. Simone has since engaged elders and community members in conversations about this word, noting how its meaning expands across time and context: "The word in Onondaga is like ‘still yet’... and, we’re still here." This practice of inquiry, both cultural and personal, has become a way of life for Simone. Her final words of inspiration to others are simple but profound: "Read good books, talk to great people, have your own inquiry, and keep investigating." Simone’s words and her leadership are true gifts.

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