NAME Mrs. Tanya Ball:
SCHOOL Hale Middle School:
CLASS English 6 - Social Studies 6 - Dance 7 & 8:
SCHOOL PHONE ( 818) 313-7400:
This is my second year at Hale Middle School. Before becoming a Comet I
taught four years at Pomelo Elementary teaching 5th, kindergarten, and a
2nd/3rd gifted split. I cherish my time spent there. Before going back to
graduate school I taught music for the LAUSD school district.
I received my BA in Musical Theatre at Brigham Young University and a Masters
in Education at Pepperdine University. I have completed around 100 hours of
district approved Gifted and Talented instructional coursework. All of this
is a benefit for instruction in the S.A.S. Program (School for Advanced
Studies), but I offer all students an enriched experience and opportunities to
challenge themselves.
My husband Matt and I have been married for 30 years, this year! We have been
blessed with seven children, five daughters and two sons. Our children range
in age from 10 to 29. In the past four years we have had three weddings and a
missionary farewell, keeping us very busy! Two of our daughters, Lindsay and
Jordan, live in Utah with their husbands. Brittany is close by, in
Northridge, with her husband. Our son Landon is serving his two year mission
in Culiacan, Mexcio and just loves it there. Regan, our 16 year old daughter
dances 6-7 hours a day and does her schooling through the California Virtual
Academy (CAVA), which allows her to dance and coordinate school within the
same curriculum. Our 10 year old, Madison, is very gregarious, loves to
travel with us. She is a great storyteller and writer. We lost our young
son, Taylor when he was just an infant. He died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome) many years ago. We also have three dogs, our Wheaten terrier
(Makayla) and two Pugs (Gus-Gus & Otis) which belong to our daughter Brittany.
The Pugs will be living with us until she and her husband find a place with a
yard.
I love to travel and see all of the places that I teach about! I still have a
dream to go to Machu Pichu in Peru someday; maybe when my son gets off his
mission and I can have my own Spanish speaking guide! I also enjoy cooking,
researching my ancestors, reading and being with extended family. I love to
learn.
I am growing fonder of Hale each day. We have wonderful teachers,
students and an excellent administration here. I feel so blessed to be a part
of a school where kids want to learn and where some are able to catch the
vision of the potential that I know they have.
I am dedicated to my students. I believe in them and enjoy learning with them.
Each student is unique and deserving of a rich educational environment. As they
respond to my challenges, I will try that much harder to raise the bar and help
them to achieve their potential. I encourage them to be their best and share
that with others. After all, there's always room for everyone, and there's
always a place for excellence.
Our motto is: "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve." Just as I strive to
continually push myself, I encourage my students to be lifelong learners.