A Q&A with a Golden Apple Finalist from Englewood STEM High School

Ms. Sharon Ponder-Ballard, a freshman English teacher at Englewood STEM High School, is one of the District’s 13 finalists for the Golden Apple for Excellence in Teaching award. A CPS graduate herself, Ms. Ponder-Ballard has been inspiring Chicago students in the classroom for nearly three decades. Get to know her more below.

What inspired you to pursue a career in education?

I attended elementary and high school at CPS schools in Bronzeville, and my teachers were always extremely invested in my eight siblings and me. They were very proud Black educators and didn’t want us to feel inferior. They also worked closely with my mother so that we could get additional academic resources. I’ll never forget reciting the work of exceptional Black poets such as Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes before beginning my lessons, and I want to transfer that same pride to my students.

What is a lesson you’ve learned from your career so far?

My career with the District started in the mid-1990s under the leadership of Principal Betty Greer, who encouraged me to transition from working as a substitute to having a classroom of my own. This process, as well as my first teaching position, really exposed me to some of the disparities present within our schools and communities, which helped me learn the importance of collaborating with both colleagues and community partners to enhance the lives of our students.

What is your approach to helping students learn and grow?

Instead of taking full responsibility for my students’ learning, I believe education needs to be a joint effort between the teacher and the students. Students should have independent opportunities to apply what they have learned. I’m also big on making sure to hype everyone up and love engaging with students whenever I can.

What are your goals for your students, both in the short term and the long term?

Each year, I try to recognize that every student has the potential to build the skills they need to thrive, such as confidence, self-advocacy, perseverance, risk-taking, creativity, and curiosity. By creating a classroom environment that helps students understand their social-emotional needs as well as their academic worth, I’m able to build student agency as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

What was your reaction when you learned that you had been named a Golden Apple finalist?

I was with a group of students watching a video clip of Sojourner Truth for Black History Month when I received the email. I opened it and screamed to my class: “I’m a finalist!”

What do you want those around you to take away from your approach to education?

I want people to remember how dedicated I am. At the same time, educating our students is a team effort. The credit also belongs to my Englewood STEM family, other members of the CPS Transformative Teaching Cohort, the partner organizations I work with, as well as my family, friends, sorority sisters, and everyone else who has supported me throughout this journey called teaching.