Angela Lathem-Ballard, of the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb, has been nominated for the Maine Council for English Language Arts’ Teacher of Excellence award. The award is given annually to English language arts teachers who have taught for at least three years in public, independent, or private schools in Maine. 

MCELA, an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English, describes the award as a way to “recognize and celebrate ELA teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and inspired a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning in their students.” CTL’s Head of School Katy Inman notes, “Angela’s classroom is a place where kids are invited to explore both the world around them and also themselves as they respond to that world. She deeply values every student’s effort and their creativity. She embodies the criteria for the MCELA award beautifully.”

Lathem-Ballard has been CTL’s teacher of fifth and sixth grade humanities (writing, reading, and history) since 2022, when she and her family moved to Edgecomb from California, where she previously taught for eighteen years. She is also the school’s arts specialist, teaching pre-K–8 visual art and grades 5-8 drama. Lathem Ballard attended the University of Illinois for her BFA and holds a Masters of Arts in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from Bradley University in her home state of Illinois. 

At CTL, Lathem-Ballard opens her writing and reading classrooms up to educators from throughout the U.S. as part of the school’s internship program. In recent years she has presented professionally at MCELA’s annual conference and as a leader of the organization’s book study. She also serves on accreditation committees for New England Association of Schools and Colleges and participates in the Quoddy Writing Retreat.

Educators nominated for the Teacher of Excellence Award provide leadership within their schools, develop and present effective ELA practices to colleagues within the school community, demonstrate commitment to student-centered learning of all backgrounds and abilities, are involved in the school and community beyond the classroom, and foster a spirit of inquiry and love of learning in their students. 

Lathem-Ballard’s nominator for the award wrote, “She is the model of celebrating creativity, intellectual curiosity, and the transformative power of teaching.In every classroom she leads, Angela creates a space where students feel seen, inspired, and deeply engaged. Her interdisciplinary approach of visual arts, literature, performance, and student voice invites learners to explore ideas with courage and imagination. She challenges students to think critically and empathetically, to experiment boldly, and to discover their own expressive power.”

The award winner will be announced in March at MCELA’s annual conference.

To learn more about CTL, please visit our website at www.c-t-l.org, or contact CTL’s Head of School, Katy Inman, at katy@c-t-l.org.