Amy Ballin

Dr. Amy Ballin is a career educator and counselor. She worked in K-12 schools as both a teacher and counselor for over 25 years before getting her doctorate in education. She worked as an assistant professor at Simmons University and Antioch University, teaching pre-service special education teachers, and then spent two years at Walker Therapeutic and Educational programs, focusing on professional development in schools. Currently, Dr. Ballin works supporting schools and families as an educational consultant and parent coach (Amy Ballin Consulting, ABc).

She received her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, majoring in environmental education. She earned a Master's in Science Teaching from Antioch/New England and worked as a science educator for ten years before earning her Master's in Social Work from Boston University. She received her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (C.A.G.S.) in education administration and her Ph.D in education from Lesley University, where she explored theories of school culture, the ethics of special education, and student motivation.

Ballin’s scholarly interests include creative approaches to teaching pedagogy and social action to eradicate injustices embedded in our educational system. She believes in connecting children's social and emotional lives to their academic success. As such, she focuses on designing teaching methods to engage a wide range of learners in finding solutions for teaching children rather than blaming children. Her research area and interests include exploring how racial and socioeconomic assumptions intersect with the social construction of special education. Dr. Ballin’s book, The Quest for Meaningful Special Education (2016), explores these concepts in depth. She has authored numerous research articles and presented at myriad academic conferences on the impact of calming corners, trauma-sensitive approaches, secondary trauma, and anxiety in schools.