05/14/2026
Congrats to an amazing History Ed alum!!
Our next Redbird Educator Teaching Award Honoree we are to introduce - Tom Ponce! 🍎🏆
Tom Ponce ‘09 earned bachelor’s degrees in history education and political science from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership. With more than 15 years in education, Tom has dedicated his career to serving diverse student communities across the Southwest and Colorado, focusing on literacy development, student identity, and equitable access to educational opportunities.
Tom began his teaching career as a member of Teach for America, serving near the Navajo Nation at Chief Manuelito Middle School in Gallup, New Mexico. During his time there, he helped students achieve significant academic growth in reading and created opportunities for engagement, including organizing the school’s first trip to Washington, D.C. He later helped found South Valley Academy Middle School in Albuquerque, where he designed a humanities curriculum that reflected the culture and history of the local community while fostering a love of reading and writing.
After relocating to Denver, Tom continued his work supporting students and teachers in a variety of leadership roles, including English Language Development teacher, instructional leader, and Director of Teacher Leadership with Teach for America. In that role, he coached dozens of educators and helped develop professional development programming that strengthened teacher retention and instructional practice.
Tom currently teaches 8th grade Language Arts at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood, Colorado, where he designs engaging curriculum centered on literature, social justice, and student voice. Throughout his career, he has mentored new teachers, built innovative curriculum, and helped thousands of students develop the skills and confidence to succeed both academically and personally.
