Ben Ballew teaches English to students at Arlington High School in Arlington, Washington. Throughout his twelve years at AHS, he has worn many hats: as the Link Crew co-advisor, he is often the first face freshmen see at AHS; as a boys JV soccer coach, he helped establish a positive and competitive culture for young athletes; as the ASB advisor and Leadership teacher, he introduced the servant leadership philosophy to his campus and empowered students to meet the needs of their peers; and, as an ELA teacher, he has been a transformational leader in helping to develop racial literacy in his school and community.
Ben earned his Masters in Education through Walden University. He is a National Board Certified teacher in ELA Adolescence and Young Adulthood. He is currently in the process of renewing this certification. He is also continually “schooled” by his colleagues in the best English department this side of the mountains. These experiences have consistently reminded Ben that student learning should be at the forefront of any and all of his endeavors as an educator.
Beyond his classroom, Ben is an advocate for equity in all forms. He is a member of his district’s cohort for the Washington State Leadership Academy, a team tasked with identifying and improving equity efforts. He was a founding member of the Arlington Math Task Force, and is currently a member of the Principal’s Council for Diversity as well as his district’s Advisory Council for Education. He also worked with his district’s curriculum committee to develop and teach an ELA course focusing on issues of social justice.
On a daily basis, Ben strives to be a servant leader and an ally; he knows this is a reputation that must be earned, and he is constantly working towards that goal.
