Mel B

From Heartbreak to Hero: The Teacher Who Never Gave Up

<b>Sponsored by Eyemart Express |</b> For nearly three decades, Tyesa Walton has been more than a teacher — she’s been a constant source of support, stability, and hope for her students. Tyesa is a proud Dunbar Vocational Career Academy alumnus who now teaches at that same Chicago school that raised her — joining the legacy of fellow alum Jennifer Hudson. She goes far beyond the classroom, providing students with clothes, food, school supplies, and even job opportunities to make sure nothing stands in their way. In 2016, after losing her daughter Chloe shortly after birth, Tyesa turned her grief into purpose by creating Chloe’s Closet — which started with just 40 prom dresses and has grown into a boutique-style resource helping students across Chicago show up with confidence for life’s biggest moments. She later expanded that mission with Chloe’s Kitchen, an on-campus food pantry ensuring students have access to essential meals. Much of this work is funded out of her own pocket — because for Tyesa, showing up for her students isn’t optional, it’s who she is. Her impact earned her the Chi Gives Back Teacher of the Year, but the biggest reward is the lives she continues to change every day. And when Eyemart Express heard her story, they stepped in with a surprise of their own, gifting Tyesa new glasses and $10,000 to support her incredible mission. Because someone who gives so much deserves to be seen and celebrated. To learn more, visit https://eyemartexpress.com.