Superintendent Jonathan Ponds sat down for a (socially distant) conversation with Montclair Fourth Ward Council Member David Cummings. The taped conversation is available on
YouTube and will also air on TV34 on Sundays at 4 pm, Mondays at 10:30 am, and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm.
Ponds gives viewers a glimpse into his humble beginnings in rural Alabama, his academic path through the Auburn school system, and the journey to his first job in education in Boston at the age of 25 as a middle school teacher for at risk students at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. “I loved the job but it was hard,” he said. “I knew when I was working with those students, many of them who looked like me, if they didn’t have the opportunity they were going to get an opportunity.”
He discussed plans for Montclair and shared one of his goals, “to make sure the community hears the whole story, of all the things going on, and how much we do care and how much progress we are going to make. We want to get our message out to families.”
Answering a variety of questions submitted by parents, Ponds said he is confident the district can move forward even during this challenging time. “We can do it. The energy here is incredible. We can get things done in Montclair. With energy, you have people who care and who support that 'all kids can learn and all kids are special.' We have the framework in Montclair to get it done.”