Crystal Ballard is moving into the classroom at Brooks-Quinn-Jones Elementary in August. It will be her first year as a teacher at Nacogdoches ISD, but it’s far from her first year with the district.
Ballard has been with NISD six years – after serving 10 years at Rusk ISD. She was secretary at Emeline Carpenter Elementary before coming on as a secretary for the Teaching & Learning Department at the district’s administration building.
Now she’s headed to the classroom as a kindergarten teacher at BQJ.
“I love working with children, and I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” Ballard said. In fact, when she was a child, she strong-armed her cousins into playing school. With her as the teacher, of course.
BQJ principal Amber Wilson is excited to have Ballard joining the campus. “We're thrilled to have Ms. Ballard on our kindergarten team,” Wilson said. “I know this is the beginning of what will be a triumphant teaching career."
Ballard is a Rusk native but has lived 13 years in Nacogdoches. In Rusk, she was a paraprofessional in a Pre-K classroom.
“I love watching their eyes light up when they learn to write their names or when they really grasp something,” she said.
Getting into a classroom at BQJ required some additional classroom work of her own, Ballard said. That meant going back to school – online with Western Governors University – to get the necessary degree and certification.
There were a few starts and stops along the way, but a couple of years ago Ballard got serious about her pursuit.
“It was just my husband and me at home,” she said. “My daughter-in-law is currently studying to become a teacher. I’ve been fortunate to have strong support from my husband, children and extended family.”
The time seemed right.
“The administration team at BQJ has just been wonderful through all of this,” Ballard said. “And Dr. (Kimberly) Welsh, Dr. (JoLynn) Corley and Raegan Grisby, they’ve been very supportive along with the Teaching and Learning Content Coordinators. They’re already letting me go to some training to get ready for next year.”
Welsh, NISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Academics, welcomed Ballard to the classroom.
“Crystal earned her degree while working as a secretary in the Teaching and Learning Department, showing incredible dedication and perseverance,” said Welsh. “Balancing work and studies, she’s been an inspiration to everyone around her. We are so proud of her hard work and the bright future ahead.”
June 26 will be Ballard’s last day at the District Support Center, then she will join the new teacher academy Aug. 1. New as a teacher, but well known to the district.