Madison Elementary chooses Celynn Ballard as ‘Teacher of the Year’
MADISON – Since 1993, Celynn Ballard has taught in five locations of Madison City Schools. Currently at Madison Elementary School, Ballard has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year.”
Ballard’s teaching career started at West Madison Elementary School, then affiliated with Madison County Schools. West Madison served only kindergartners and first-graders.
“I taught kindergarten there until the opening of Horizon Elementary. Creation of school zones led to staff reorganization among three K-4 schools. At that point, I transferred to Madison Elementary, where I taught both kindergarten and first grade,” Ballard said.
In 2002, she stepped away from the classroom to become a full-time mother. “When I returned to teaching in 2009, I accepted a fifth-grade position at Rainbow Elementary,” she said. “Later, Mill Creek Elementary provided an opportunity for me to return to younger grades; I taught first and second grade.”
In recent years, Ballard returned to Madison Elementary and currently teaches second- and third-graders.
With her nomination and win as top teacher, Ballard felt honored and touched. “I also thought of all the other incredible teachers that deserved to be celebrated, too,” she said.
“I was fortunate to be offered a job with the (MCS) system when it was just beginning and to feel connected to all the changes it has undergone. It’s honestly all that I have known,” Ballard said. “I’m proud of our reputation as one of the top school systems in the state.”
During her career, Ballard takes “the most pride in the connections I form with students and their families. Knowing that I have helped students love to learn, feel safe and truly cared for is what matters most,” she said. “It’s always rewarding to hear from former students through letters or emails and know they still remember our time together.”
Ballard knows she has ‘done the right thing’ when a difficult conversation with a parent leads to a stronger partnership and better support for their child. “While these conversations can be hard, especially when discussing concerns that are difficult to hear, they are often the first step toward meaningful growth and success,” she said.
A native of Huntsville, Ballard earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Montevallo. Later while teaching, she received a master’s degree from the University of North Alabama.
Her husband, Tom Ballard, works as an electrical engineer at ADTRAN.
Their son and daughter graduated from Bob Jones High School. Son Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a chemistry minor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and played baseball for UAB; in July, Thomas will enter dental school at UAB. Daughter Kate graduated from Auburn University in May with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design, with a minor in horticulture, and will begin graduate school in landscape architecture at Mississippi State University in August.
“I love all things nature and animals,” Celynn said. “When my classroom was in the portable (building) at Mill Creek, my students and I temporarily cared for a downy woodpecker fledgling and a young mockingbird before returning them safely to the outdoors.”
“My students know that I’ll rescue just about any creature and help it find its way back outside . . . except for roaches!” she said.
In free time, Celynn likes reading (historical fiction is her favorite genre); spending time at the lake with family and friends; and birdwatching.
