Special Ed teacher Stephanie Ballard named South Dakota’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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Stephanie Ballard, a middle school Special Education teacher from Brookings, South Dakota, has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: South Dakota Education Association

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional teachers from around the country. One of these is Stephanie Ballard, a middle school teacher from Brookings, South Dakota. She’s been named her state’s 2022 State Teacher of the Year.

Stephanie teaches Special Education mathematics at George S. Michelson Middle School in Brookings. Prior to teaching at Michelson, she taught at Camelot Intermediate School. In all, her career as an educator has spanned eight years.

In her work, Stephanie evaluates sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students to determine whether they are eligible for special education services, and then she develops and implements their Individualized Education Program (IEP). She also teaches specialized classes for students with disabilities who are underperforming in mathematics, and she co-teaches inclusion math classes with general education teachers, providing accommodations and modifications to help all students be successful. And, as if all that were not enough, she conducts professional development workshops and mentors new teachers in her district. Furthermore, she is active in the local division of the South Dakota Education Association.

Stephanie says she has always loved learning and school. “I was actually homeschooled from kindergarten to sixth grade, my mom homeschooled me and my three siblings,” the honored teacher reveals. “That is something that I have taken pretty seriously now as a special education teacher. I just know that students can be way more successful if there is a close relationship between home and school,” she continues.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Inclusive Education and Special Education with specializations in specific learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2014.

As recipient of her state’s Teacher of the Year award, Stephanie will receive a $5,000 grant from the South Dakota Department of Education and a $1,000 honorarium from the South Dakota Board of Regents which she will be able use to present a series of professional development seminars to aspiring teachers.

Congratulations, Stephanie!