Alumni Spotlight on Theodosia Ballard
色情视频 graduate named elementary teacher of the year for San Diego City schools
Theodosia Ballard has the highest expectations for her students because her teachers never expected much from her.
鈥淭he students that I have the privilege of serving are often labeled as 鈥榣ow-achieving,鈥欌�� said the veteran educator. 鈥淭he truth is my students are under-achieving. They have the ability to do well, yet don鈥檛 believe they can.鈥�
Ballard is determined to nurture achievers in her fifth-grade classroom at Walter J. Porter Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District. Her own struggle to achieve was hindered by those who told her she did not have the ability to get into college, let alone graduate.
But Ballard proved them wrong, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in liberal studies and a master鈥檚 in curriculum and instruction from 色情视频, where her major influences include professors Shirley Weber, Nadine Bezuk, Ricardo Cornejo and Carla Mathison. She is currently enrolled in the joint USD/色情视频 Ph.D. program.
Now, Ballard鈥檚 exceptional talents have earned her the highest recognition in her field 鈥� she is San Diego Unified鈥檚 Teacher of the Year (elementary level) for 2008-2009.
鈥淚 consider it a blessing and an honor to represent an elite profession,鈥� Ballard said of the award. 鈥淚t is a great feeling to know that the hard work we do with students each and every day does not go unnoticed.鈥�
