Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Barnett
Hi Tia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I guess I’ll start at the beginning of my dental story. It was 2006 and I was a single mom working at Walmart. I wanted a career. I wanted to do something I was proud of every day. I knew I would not be able to go to a traditional college due to my poor testing skills. I wanted to do something that I could learn while doing. I walked into Provo college and said I needed a career “Just don’t put me in dental”. The Dean of the school said that it would be a shame not to introduce me to the Administrator of the dental department. When I met her I instantly knew that I could do this. She was a lot like me. Sassy and organized and had a great sense of humor. I spent 12 months in that program and when I went to work in an actual dental office I felt like I was so unprepared. I had just spent one whole year in school preparing for this. I found an office that I could learn and grow and have since been in many offices. I have been an assistant, a treatment planner, an office manager, a doctor partner and even a consultant to help organize and structure an office. I love the dental field so much I found the best job I could possibly do, Teach and manage a school of Dental Assisting. When this school was created, it was structure so 75% of the learning was hands on. Students would still learn the terminology and basics on paper, but more importantly they would learn how to use that knowledge in the clinic where they would put it into action. Although this is an accelerated program, it is amazing to see the transformation from week one to week 10. The knowledge that is obtained and the confidence that is built in such a short time is amazing! I wish I had had this kind of a program and such dedicated instructors to insure my success!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is never a smooth road. My mom was a single parent and I had 2 siblings. She worked and went to nursing school trying to make a better life for us kids. I helped raise my siblings. I even learned to cut hair when I was 12 to save money for our whole family. I didn’t mind, but I think I grew up a bit too fast. When my mom graduated nursing school she was home a lot more. It was a hard adjustment to go from listening to me to listening to my mom for direction. Ultimately she decided it would be best if I left and moved in with my dad.
Up to this point, my dad wasn’t really anything but a weekend dad. But when I moved in, everything changed. He moved into a new apartment. We didn’t have any furniture for about 6 months. I remember sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag and I was so grateful to have my own room I didn’t care. I took care of myself as my dad owned his own roofing business. He always made sure to be home by dinner time. I had a lot of time to do things I should have and I got pregnant when I was 16. I went to a teen mom school where everything was dumbed down. I felt like a cast out. Then I decided to get married at 17. There was no proposal, just a decision guided by many adults. We were living with my dad in Salt Lake county at the time and my husband was working for him. I was very close to my dad. In 1998, I got married in May, had my baby in June, and my sweet dad passed in September. Looking back I don’t know how I managed to hold it together.
My husband at the time got a job in Provo and we moved to Utah county. After 2 kids and a rocky marriage, I got a divorce. I was alone with 2 kids, but they were the one love in my life that kept me going. I absolutely did everything I could for those girls!
I met someone who I did not want a relationship with. In fact, I told him “just so you know, this isn’t going anywhere”. He took that as a challenge and we were married 1.5 years later. I am still married to him, the love of my life, after 19 years on March 24th- Also my birthday! We had 2 boys together and he always treated my girls as if they were his own. We also picked up an extra daughter a long the way. Although she was not our birth child, she was a neighbor we took in. She calls us mom and dad. We have been through some hard time together, We have lost a baby, we have lost loved ones, and we have been through rough times with our children, like most families. I was just lucky enough to have my best friend to help me through it all. I could not be more grateful for him!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a dental assistant by trade. Over the years I have been a lead dental assistant who helps the doctor chair-side, does all the ordering, maintained equipment and so much more. I have been a treatment planner who explained treatment to patients, why the need is and some financial potions if needed. I have sold hundreds of thousands of dollars in my career. I have been an office manager who runs the office, manages schedules and helps pad the bottom line. I have also worked as a consultant to help offices that are not efficient, identify problems and find solutions to fix the problems. I would say the part of my career that I love the most is teaching. It’s different from training, it’s guidance with a passion for the student to succeed. I started 5 years ago and now I am the Program Director! I love being able to serve others as an instructor and mentor in the dental field. I love that my students will call me years later and tell me how my little piece of guidance help shape them into the success they are today. I love the pride and confidence I help create in others. I love the happiness in the students families faces at graduation. Dental work for free to help our community. I love it all!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am not tech savvy! Ask me anything dental and I can answer it for you. I can fix almost anything in a dental office. I can find a solution to most problems. But anything software related or problems with computers… No thank you. That is why I married my husband. He is always great at that!
Pricing:
- Tuition for our program is $2,995
Contact Info:
- Website: https://utahvalleyda.com
- Instagram: @utahvalleydentalassisting
- Facebook: Utah Valley Dental Assisting
- Other: TikTok @uvdaschool
