Dr. Alton E. Sumner is a virtual biblical studies teacher at Calvary Bible Institute.
He teaches two 16-week survey courses covering the Old and New Testaments,
BS101 and BS102. Interested students may register at calvarybibleinstitute.org.
He is a former secondary school principal, an inspiring speaker, minister, author,
and family man. After teaching high school and college students for 20 years, he
spent over two decades serving as a secondary principal in Montgomery County,
Maryland. In that capacity, he promoted educational salvation, social justice,
and cultural and racial understanding.

In addition, Alton had an exciting avocation, more than an avocation—a labor of
love! As a radio and television announcer, he was the soothing voice of Sunday
morning in the Research Triangle for some thirteen years. His weekly six-hour
gospel program infused a cutting-edge mix of contemporary and traditional gospel
music, interviews with nationally and internationally acclaimed recording artists,
local civic leaders, and ministers. His bi-weekly cable television show, “Spotlight
on Teaching,” showcased outstanding teachers and highlighted excellent teaching
and educational practices.

Alton’s story is about rising from the abject poverty of a remote place called the
Slashes Lowlands, navigating the hardships his family experienced as
sharecroppers in eastern North Carolina, and battling prejudice, discrimination,
and raw racism in junior high school to ultimately becoming the principal of a leading
an academic middle school in Bethesda, Maryland.

It is a story about overcoming
fear, embracing faith, and discovering the power of perfect love.
Alton holds a Bachelor’s and a Master of Arts degree in history and a Doctor of
Ministry degree in strategic leadership. He is married to his loving wife of more
than three decades, Betty, and is the father of two amazing adult children,
Jonathan and Nichelle.