Alumnus Ted Bonman: From Classroom to Stage, Grow Together Through the Stories we Share

Married for 17 years and the father of two children, Lydia, 12, and Henry, 9, Bonman balances family life and a passion for teaching with touching simplicity. For over a decade, he has taught literature and theater to high school students, while also being involved in the local arts scene. He is a board member of the Old Town Actors Studio and remains active as a director and actor in various community theaters in Pocatello.

But what few people know is that his path is anything but a blueprint. Originally from Delaware, Bonman experienced his first major move at the age of 5, leaving the Philippines with his family to settle in the United States. At 15, he underwent a second upheaval: he moved to Pocatello. The contrast between the East Coast and Idaho was striking, but he found it fertile ground for self-redefinition.

After high school, he took a gap year. Upon his return, thanks to a scholarship generously maintained by Idaho State University (ISU), he began studying theater and English.

"I've always loved stories," he confides. He discovered in these disciplines a universal language, a way to explore the human condition.

His time at ISU was punctuated by significant encounters: English professors Jessica Winston, Susan Swetnam, Kurt Whitaker, and Margaret Johnson became intellectual and human reference points. He recalls Dr. Winston's Shakespeare classes with admiration: "She always pushed us to go deeper in our understanding." And with Swetnam, he learned that teaching, despite its complexity, can be a field of experimentation, continuous improvement, and self-kindness.

During his studies, Bonman worked in the university's IT support department, then obtained a position as a teaching assistant in the English major. After graduation, he taught for a few semesters as a lecturer. But he was looking for stability to start a family, so he opted for an alternative secondary teaching certificate in the state of Idaho.

He began his career at Highland High School, where he taught English, then moved to Century High School, where he now combines his two passions: language and theater. He works in tandem with a co-teacher, Shawn Ruth, which she deeply enjoys. "Running a theater department alone is a huge challenge. Being two is a blessing." 

What moves him most? Seeing his students succeed where they once doubted themselves. “It’s fascinating to see them overcome a challenge, a difficult role, a complex text… and succeed.” For Ted, teaching is not just about transmitting knowledge, but a human adventure. He celebrates effort, not just results.

He also shares a simple but powerful philosophy: “We learn best from others. We discover our meaning in life by reaching out.”

Through the dual enrollment (dual credit) program, Bonman continues to collaborate with the ISU English Department. He regularly runs into former mentors at local libraries or on the stages of community theaters. “I recently had the chance to perform again with one of my former professors. It’s a privilege to maintain those connections.”

Bonman encourages students to stay open-minded and to venture outside their comfort zones. “You rarely enter college knowing exactly what you want to do.” You have to explore, meet, and test." He also emphasizes the importance of telling others what you see as beautiful in them: "The feedback I received in my youth shaped me. That's what I try to convey today."

Throughout his career, Bonman teaches us that education is much more than acquiring knowledge: it's a path toward others, toward oneself, and toward a more connected world. His commitment, his love of words, the stage, and people, makes him a discreet but essential pillar of the Pocatello educational community.

And in each of his classes, in each play he directs, he plants a little of this philosophy: the conviction that we grow, together, through the stories we share.