ASCENSION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TEACHER FEATURE

Charles Ponder knew he would be a teacher since he was in second grade.

“I didn’t know what subject I would teach until a high school math teacher impressed upon me a love for math,” Ponder said. “Now I get the opportunity to work with young people and make a difference in their lives.”

Ponder, who has taught at Ascension Leadership Academy for five years after a long career in public education, was recently named to the additional position of Assistant Principal. He was also named the Presbyterian Home for Children’s Employee of the Month for March.

Ponder attended Jacksonville State University, where he earned a BA degree in education, with certifications in mathematics, English, sociology and psychology. He returned to JSU to complete a Master’s Degree in math education, and he also graduated with an educational specialist degree in mathematics from The University of Alabama. Ponder is certified in Gifted Education.

After teaching at Talladega High School for 23 years, he commuted to Carrollton, Ga., for 13 years to teach. He said he was enjoying his retirement when he agreed to finish out the school year at Ascension for the math teacher. “Five years later, I am still loving it!” he said. As an educator, he said he enjoys the personalized education he can give students at Ascension. "With the average class size being six students, each working at their own pace, you can get so much more done. No student is held up, and no one is rushed faster than needed. We have students who finish their lessons early and are allowed to move on to the next course. We often have students who work ahead enough to be able to graduate a year early.”

Ponder described himself as “a Christian man who loves his Lord, his church and his family.”

An active member of Ridgeview Baptist Church, Ponder is on the Board of Directors of 1.27 Kids, a local organization that supports Talladega County foster families. He has two adult children and seven grandchildren.

“We’re fortunate that we were able to convince Mr. Ponder to come out of retirement and join the team at Ascension, where his love of education continues to positively influence the lives of his students,” said Linda Harris, Director of Education and Assistant to the President for the Home.

Ascension Leadership Academy, a ministry of the Presbyterian Home for Children, opened in 1997 as the on-campus educational program for the Home and has since grown into a Cognia-accredited K-12 school focusing on academics and leadership.