About me

     Hello! My name is Preston Ponder, and I’m the Theatre Arts Teacher at the Texas School for the Deaf. For the past 23 years, I’ve worked with students in many roles, including substitute teacher, teacher aide, dorm counselor, coach, and teacher. My career began at the Clerc Center in Washington, D.C., and has also included Deaf camps, after school programs, athletics, and youth programs.

     Theatre has been part of my life since I was young. That interest continued at Gallaudet University through theatre courses and university productions. A professor once asked, “Have you ever thought about teaching Theatre Arts?” That question helped turn a longtime interest into a career, and Educational Drama became my major.

     Creativity has always been important to me, whether through theatre, photography, design, or simply seeing how other people express their ideas. That same creativity is something students are encouraged to explore in class.

     Today, I teach Theatre Arts to students in grades 6 through 12. We explore acting, stagecraft, storytelling, Deaf theatre and its history, design, and the many jobs that happen both onstage and behind the scenes. My own experience includes directing, designing, performing, and teaching. Most recently, I served as Co Director for TSD’s Spring 2026 production of Good Night, Ladies. Stage and screen credits include Dr. Hand, Deaf Family, Beyond the Embers, The Boys Next Door, Lysistrata, and Goya en la Quinta del Sordo.

     Theatre class is about more than performing. It is a place to create, work together, solve problems, build confidence, make mistakes, try again, and discover new skills. Not everyone needs to be an actor. Theatre has room for performers, designers, technicians, builders, directors, artists, storytellers, and creative thinkers.

     My goal is simple: give students a place to learn about theatre, learn about themselves, try something new, and hopefully have some fun along the way.

     And one theatre rule from Mr. Ponder: during a live performance, put the phone away. The show is better when you actually watch it!

     Let’s make some theatre!