‘This Is My Oscar Moment’
ENGLEWOOD — Sharon Ponder-Ballard manufactured a guarantee to a pupil.
She pledged if she obtained the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Training, a prize honoring exemplary lecturers statewide, she’d do the Griddy — a easy dance where by the dancer slides on the floor like every step is slick with butter.
Ponder-Ballard fulfilled that guarantee Wednesday prior to dozens of Englewood STEM Higher College learners. Decked out in a shimmery gold best, gold eyeshadow and gold lashes — she was dressed up for an anniversary evening meal with her spouse afterwards that night time — she transformed into a golden, bedazzled blur as she glided throughout the gymnasium floor.
Ponder-Ballard joins a group of 10 teachers who acquired the prestigious award from the Golden Apple Foundation this yr.
“This is my Oscar moment,” she explained to the crowd.
Credit rating: Golden Apple Foundation
Ponder-Ballard has taught Chicago college students for additional than 20 a long time and began educating 9th quality English at Englewood STEM, 6835 S. Normal St., when the school was founded three a long time back.
She stated she tries to link with pupils academically and individually by heading over and above the web page and finding real-earth lessons within the fictional texts. She lets pupils know she’s just a further individual like them, she explained. The only big difference is she stands in front of the classroom.
“I attempt to provide serious-entire world actions, discussions and readings,” Ponder-Ballard said. “I attempt to infuse it with culturally applicable elements, and students have a tendency to gravitate toward it. I also permit them see that I’m human, that I have skilled mistakes, and it is Alright. They are in this article to develop, and we’re below to assistance them and nurture them.”
In her “old college days” of teaching, college students desired to study typical texts like Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” and Richard Wright’s “Native Son,” Ponder-Ballard mentioned.
Following several years of lessons, she realized she needed to revamp her library to enchantment to today’s students. She mentioned she “upgraded and updated” her e book pile to contain present-day authors who resonate with college students, like “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers and “The Despise U Give” by Angie Thomas. A device on Tupac Shakur essential students to tie the late rapper’s music to today’s Chicago artists and come across literary gadgets in the lyrics.
“I’ve been attempting to make it so that the substance isn’t so distant from their time interval,” Ponder-Ballard reported. “I feel like students are receptive to my training type. That is what matters.”
Credit rating: Golden Apple FoundationImmediately after she was named a finalist for the award in February, Ponder-Ballard attended school assemblies for months with a speech she wrote a calendar year back, just in situation that was the working day she’d obtain the Golden Apple Award, she explained.
Ponder-Ballard was sitting in the stands viewing an awards ceremony for pupils when Golden Apple Basis officials entered the gym to announce her as the winner. She stood and ran to the flooring as learners and dancers with golden pompoms cheered her on.
Irrespective of her stay-prepared-so-you-don’t-have-to-get-completely ready strength, Ponder-Ballard reported she had no plan she was acquiring the award her husband did, although.
“Everyone received me really fantastic,” Ponder-Ballard said. “Now I know we’re going off to rejoice this award at meal, as well. I sense wonderful.”
Golden Apple winners obtained $5,000 and a spring sabbatical offered by Northwestern College for no cost.
Credit score: Golden Apple BasisPonder-Ballard said her award is an ode to a team of Black instructors who took her less than their wings when she started off educating. They did not acquire the recognition they deserved all through their time, but she’s thankful the Golden Apple Foundation is primary the way for today’s educators, she said.
“I think that the Golden Apple Basis raises the bar on recognizing a occupation that is so undervalued and underlooked,” Ponder-Ballard explained. “Sometimes, we are likely to downplay our attempts or diminish the do the job that we do mainly because we really do not want folks to assume we’re arrogant, but our do the job is so powerful. This award implies so a lot much more than just me.”
The decrease in Black lecturers she’s witnessed is overwhelming, Ponder-Ballard explained. She hopes as she carries the “Golden Apple torch,” other instructors are revitalized and carry on ahead with the awareness that “they can do it, too.”
“In a community like Englewood, violence is usually linked with the local community,” she stated. “Now we get to say ‘Golden Apple’ and ‘Englewood’ in the exact sentence. What a blessing. It’s refreshing.”
Ponder-Ballard isn’t likely anyplace, she mentioned. She hopes to continue on inspiring and guiding learners for decades to appear.
“I’m appreciative that I have administrators that are open to my training design and style and flexibility,” Ponder-Ballard claimed. “I hope that we will carry on to serve as a beacon of hope for our learners in the spot, not just in terms, but in continual resources. I hope we will carry on to make college students really feel at ease, proud and like they’re expanding.”
Credit: Golden Apple FoundationPay attention to “It’s All Fantastic: A Block Club Chicago Podcast”:
