Debbie Ballard

With over 35 years of experience in early childhood education and a background in early childhood special education, Debbie Ballard brings not only great knowledge and experience, but a unique perspective to our team. She has a Master’s degree in early childhood special education and school administration, and a State of Utah certification for Early Intervention birth to Three. 

With a passion for family and student engagement and social emotional development, Debbie had the privilege of working with children and their families in a birth to three special education early intervention program and a preschool program as a special education teacher and a as program administrator. She is currently working as the Special Education Director at Channing Hall Charter School.  Debbie also is an educational consultant for Lakeshore Learning.  She has worked for Utah State University as an adjunct faculty, responsible for teaching classes on the Mission and Key Principles in Early Intervention in Birth to Three programs as well as how Social Emotional Development in young children impacts overall child development.  She has held many state and national leadership positions for the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Division of Early Childhood (DEC).  Debbie worked with the Early Childhood Technical Center (ECTA)and the Department of Education in Utah on implementing a program throughout Utah called Reaching Potentials Through DEC Recommended Practices (RP²). She has also worked with Utah State University in implementing the RP²  strategies in three daycare programs in Salt Lake City Utah.   She served on the Utah Interagency Coordination Council for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs and their Families (ICC) for six years.   

Debbie has been working as an educational consultant for Lakeshore Learning since 2018.  This position provides Debbie with the opportunity to provide trainings for early childhood educators throughout the country.