Written by Tom Ponce, 8th grade English Teacher, St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood, CO, Tponce@smanet.org
I have taught for fifteen years. I began my career in public schools, teaching underserved youth across the country, from south of Chicago to the Navajo Reservation. I joined the staff at St. Mary’s Academy because it was my own Catholic education that taught me the meaning of servant leadership. The values I gained from Saint Pat’s and Joliet Catholic Academy have stayed with me, from joining Teach for America to persevering through cancer and eventually moving to Denver.
When I moved to Denver, I went from school to school, searching for a community that represented my values and provided a sense of belonging. Over a year ago, I found Saint Mary’s Academy, a place founded by the Sisters of Loretto under the banner of faith, respect, community, and justice. It felt like coming home. As the eighth-grade English teacher, I take my role seriously as the bridge that prepares my students for the rigors of high school. One of my ongoing goals has been to reinforce the values of Loretto not only in my actions but also through the literature we read and the essays we write.
Teaching Values Through Literature
We begin by reading books on neurodiversity and exploring the idea of identity. It is important that students recognize that we are all different and that our differences were made by God to make us stronger and more united. Whether it’s the way we learn, our ethnicities, our family makeup, or our interests, our identities may differ, but we are all one community. One of the books we explore is Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin, which examines a neurodivergent middle schooler and how he navigates the world around him. We talk about how we can be a better community for everyone, no matter their differences.
Another anchor text we study is Rad American Women A–Z by Kate Schatz. It examines some of the amazing women in American history who tried to change the world for the better. We approach this text with essential questions in mind: What is legacy? Why does legacy matter? What do you want your legacy to be? The goal is to help students consider how they can create a legacy of good. The essay connected to this unit asks, “Who should be included in the next edition of Rad American Women?” Many students choose American Catholics who have done a great deal of work to help others.
In the winter, we read A Rebel in Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather, the story of Witold Pilecki, a Polish Catholic freedom fighter who willingly allowed himself to be taken by the Nazis so he could expose the atrocities of Auschwitz. In examining this book, we ask: “How does one stand up for others when society oppresses them?” “How do you stay true to your values in the harshest of conditions?” Through this, we learn the importance of justice and respect, not only as values of our school but as necessary virtues in an often-uncaring world.
We end the year by focusing on Japanese internment, examining how fear can be used to divide communities and cause people to abandon values such as respect, community, and justice. Last year, we read Days of Infamy by Lawrence Goldstone, which explores how racism and bigotry led to the internment of loyal American citizens. This year, we will read the classic autobiography Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, which presents the experience of internment through the eyes of a young girl.
I have worked extremely hard to find books that are both high in rigor and high in interest; while also exploring the values we want our students to carry with them when they leave Saint Mary’s Academy. As Catholics, it is important not only to walk in the world with our values but also to ask: “How do we help those who are different from us?” Christ welcomed the stranger, and so should we. My goal is to ensure that beyond our prayer services, religion classes, and stated values, we integrate these beliefs across the curriculum, addressing them in essays, examining them through the protagonists we study, and discussing how these Christian values shape our lives and actions.
Living the Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Saint Mary’s Academy focuses on how we can take our students out into the world to serve. We participate in service throughout the year, from feeding those in need to cleaning up the local reservoir, demonstrating the importance of not just speaking our values but living them through action. When I think about my own Catholic education and how it formed me into the person I am, I think about my eighth-grade teacher, Mr. Paul, and my senior-year teacher, Mr. Hostert. Their work inspired me to become a teacher. It also taught me that those who don’t look like you can still make you feel loved and seen. I try to do the same for my students.
I don’t think I ever expected to end up at Saint Mary’s, but God has a way of ensuring that we are used to fulfill His purpose. From the Navajo Reservation to the South Valley of Albuquerque to the scenic views of Colorado, I strive to serve as a living witness of perseverance and faith. Catholic education isn’t just about academic rigor—it’s about forming the strong moral character needed to lead our society. Our students don’t just learn from what we teach; they learn from how we live. Every day, I choose to live Loretto.
