Hello All!

**Who is Mrs. Ponder?**

I am a dedicated mother, wife, and educator. I have two children, with our youngest beginning her sophomore year at Tarleton State University. The oldest lives in Ohio with her husband and doggies. My husband teaches graphic design  and Eagle.TV at TLCA High School. It's wonderful having the same schedule and being able to support each other with empathy.

Originally from Nevada, I have spent 16 years in New Mexico. This is my 5th year in Texas, and I absolutely love everything Texas has to offer.

**Teaching Background**

I currently 8th grade math at Lincoln Middle School. This is my 13th year in education and my 5th year at Lincoln Middle School. My teaching experience includes positions in Cloudcroft, NM, and Alamogordo, NM. I hold a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University and a master's degree in Education Administration from Eastern New Mexico University. I am currently pursuing National Board Certification in the area of Early Adolescence Mathematics.

Before beginning my teaching career in my 30s, I was fortunate to stay at home with my children during their early years. Helping my students understand and appreciate math is my passion, and I am excited to continue my teaching journey at Lincoln Middle School.

**My "Why"**

My inspiration to pursue a career in education came from my father, who was an English teacher. As an instructional aide, I observed a concerning trend: many students believed they were inherently bad at math and were often too afraid to even try. This motivated me to become certified in 4-8 mathematics so I could help students build confidence in their math abilities.

In my classroom, I strive to create a positive environment where students feel encouraged to try. The only way to learn math is to engage with it, and I emphasize that making mistakes is a vital part of the learning process because it indicates active thinking. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a student understand a concept they have been struggling with. My goal as a math teacher is to help my students gain confidence and develop a more positive attitude toward math.

My name is Kristen Provenzano. I teach 8th grade Math and Algebra 1 at Lincoln Middle School. I started teaching in San Angelo ISD in 2018. I graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2012 with my bachelor’s degree in Business Management. I graduated with my Master's in Business Administration at Angelo State University in May 2022. 

My "Why"

In the past, I have worked in retail management.  I did this all over the state of Texas and worked with a very diverse set of individuals.  Although I enjoyed my time in retail, I noticed how many people felt as though they were “stuck” in their jobs.  I loved being the person who could help them achieve their goals and move on to better and bigger things.  I wanted to do this on a different level.  I wanted to be that person to help the younger generation set and achieve goals before getting to a point where they felt “stuck.”  

My "Why"

I see similar struggles from my students now that I experienced when I was their age.  I love being able to relate to our kids on those more personal levels.  When I hear kids say that they are bad at math, or can’t do it because it is hard, I explain to them that I was never “good at math” and that I didn’t think I could do it either.  Their responses are always an amazing teaching moment for us.  I didn’t go to school to be a math teacher, or any teacher for that matter.  Both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees are in business, but while working in business, I saw a need at a different level.  Math was never my strongest subject.  I struggled with it all the way through college!  I tell my students that the only way to get better at something is to practice.  Most of them can relate in some way to this idea and from there, grow in their confidence to practice math.  Expectations are set very early so my students know that my classroom is a safe place to make mistakes, ask questions and grow.  We encourage each other and continue to grow together.  I love working through problems with students until that light bulb shines bright above them.  The “ah ha” moment is such an amazing time for both the students and myself.  Watching their knowledge in math grow is great, but seeing their confidence in themselves grow is simply the best!  

Lincoln has the best staff and the best students in town!  We are a family.  We all work together to achieve our goals and make it the best experience possible.  You just can’t beat that!