profile

Who is Zach Ballard?

Burgeoning technical professional with six years of experience as an education leader. Self-motivated and focused on advocating for technological innovation in the workplace. Excited about designing and authoring educational content, creating educational products, and ensuring that learner outcomes can be successfully achieved. Experienced in organizing and leading multiple projects simultaneously. Eager to learn daily and collaborate with a team around implementing modern software.


Faculty Operations and Instructional Technology Specialist

Purdue University Global | January 2022 – Present

  • The Faculty Operations and Instructional Technology Specialist is responsible for collaboration with the Faculty Operations team, and other appropriate staff, to identify the technology resources that best support their effective and efficient flow of work for the university. This specialist will identify, design, and effectively incorporate technology plans and tools into university support workflows. Reporting created by this role will track and analyze process-related outcomes for academic and department leaders. These reports will help identify performance gaps inhibiting the continuous improvement of standard operational processes, and contribute to data-informed decisions about university policy and practice.
  • Design and implement project management processes and tools that support the Faculty Operations Department strategic plans and objectives.
  • Collaborate with the Faculty Operations team to identify, design and implement project management solutions and the application of web/media content that support continuous improvement, providing training and support as necessary to assure success.
  • Develop effective systems and reporting to communicate essential information to school leadership for planning, policy evaluation and budgeting purposes.
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts and key stakeholders to define multimedia options and recommend effective solutions. Assist with the development, updates, and improvements of department websites.
  • Assist with the production of consistent multimedia assets across digital channels including website, email, video, webinars/virtual events, etc. to support training opportunities.
  • Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures in faculty operations; specifically related to university scheduling and faculty compensation audits.

Adjunct Professor | Professionalism in the Global Workplace

Purdue University Global | August 2022 – Present

    Providing a learning environment that supports student success.
  • Teaching synchronous or asynchronous seminars (10 or 6 week units) as assigned by school or program.
  • Maintaining school-determined virtual office hours per week for each class.
  • Ensuring timely management and response to electronic correspondence from students, administrators, and other school officials.
  • Leading message board discussions and engaging students in relevant discussion and coursework.
  • Partnering with Academic Advisors to address student concerns.
  • Maintaining and submitting accurate and timely reports for student grades/progress.
  • Delivering mid-term and final grades in accordance with the academic calendar.
  • Enforcing student conduct policies as outlined in the University Catalog.
  • Attending university, departmental, and faculty meetings as requested.
  • Remain current with trends, techniques, and advances in distance learning.

eLearning & Development Specialist

Purdue University Global | June 2021 – March 2022

  • Collaborate with subject matter experts, project managers, and key stakeholders to design, create, and improve eLearning content.
  • Design and author compliance training aligned with federal, state, and school regulations to be completed by all employees across multiple branches of the Purdue System.
  • Assist with producing consistent multimedia assets across digital channels, including website, email, video, webinars/virtual events, etc., to support training opportunities.
  • Organize multiple projects while delivering against timelines and managing expectations.
  • Assist with the development, updates, and improvements of websites for the Academic Success Center, Student Life, and Faculty Operations.
  • Develop online environments utilizing Brightspace by D2L for Student Life engagement.
  • Collaborate with the Center for Teacher and Learning team on various web/media content and design projects.
  • Communicate through appropriate channels with academic administrators and faculty to ensure they have the information to be effective in their roles.
  • Maintain positive working relationships with other departmental units.
  • Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures. Have an exceptional eye for detail and a built-in habit of always double-checking work products.

Front-end Web Development

Freelance | February 2021 – Present

  • Meeting with clients to identify desired website goals
  • Working with the client to gather and optimize their content
  • Designing wireframes based on client needs
  • Building client websites from start to finish
  • Keeping the client informed throughout each stage of development
  • Creating and managing content
  • Troubleshooting client issues
  • Assisting client with making changes to their website
  • Following up with client about their website’s progress
  • Formatting clients’ content with HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap

Educator

Jefferson Co. High School | August 2016 – July 2021

  • Five years of experience with focus on designing inquiry-based lessons and blended learning through online Learning Management System (LMS)
  • Collaborated with team to build district-wide curriculum and common benchmarks
  • Reviewed and prioritized curriculum across multiple subjects for alignment with state and federal standards
  • Improved student outcomes by implementing data-driven revisions through analyzing feedback and performance data

District LMS Expert

Jefferson Co. Schools | August 2020 – July 2021

  • Onboarded and trained instructors for successful implementation of online instruction
  • Led instructors through the process of organizing, creating, and implementing curriculum via an online LMS
  • Navigated team of teachers through an ambiguous time of online asynchronous learning

Professional Development Leader

Jefferson Co. Schools | August 2017 – July 2021

  • Created district-wide professional development: use of proprietary videos in instruction, use of online LMS in instruction, and strategies for the successfully implementation of inquiry-based instruction
  • Delivered proprietary professional development about best practices in an online learning environment

TESOL Certified Teacher

VIPKID: Beijing, China | June 2019 - July 2021

  • Remote experience teaching English as a Second Language to international students

Full-Stack Web + Mobile Development

  • Nucamp Bootcamp
  • May 2021

Master of Education

  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Carson-Newman University
  • May 2018

Bachelor of Arts

  • Pre-Med. Biology | Religious Studies
  • Carson-Newman University
  • May 2016

Certifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Project Management | October 2022 | Purdue Global University
  • HTML, CSS, JS Development Fundamentals | 2020
  • Front-End Web Development: Bootstrap | 2020
  • Front-End Web Development: React | 2020
  • Front-End Web Development: React Native | 2020
  • Back-End Web Development | 2020
  • Full Stack Web and Mobile Development | 2020
  • TN State Licensed Teacher | 2016

Skills & Languages

  • HTML, CSS/ Sass, JavaScript, Python, jQuery, Visual Studio Code, Bootstrap, React, Redux, Command-Line, NPM, Git, Git Hub, Wireframes, Debugging, RESTful APIs, JSON data, React Native, Expo SDK, Node.js, Express, Mongoose, NoSQL database structures, MongoDB, Slack, Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Articulate, Rise 360, Storyline 360, Review 360, Contentful, Agile Development, Webflow

Currently Learning

  • Python & SQL

Working Towards

  • Data Analysis Certification (Python, SQL, ML, & AI)

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Brendan Roman

Front End Developer at Lunchbox

"I had the absolute pleasure of instructing Zach through advanced Web Development, including React/Redux and advanced JS concepts. Zach displays a huge commitment to understand the why behind every new concept, such that he can teach it to others either in class or on his team who are struggling (as he often successfully would). He is a proactive, skilled problem solver with a knack for asking the right questions. His ambition and love for learning make him extremely flexible, and I would recommend him for any team looking for someone hungry and ambitious, who has a solid Web Development foundation and toolkit!"

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Drew Hackelman

Full Stack Developer at The Social Institute

"Zach is an excellent developer. He is quick to absorb information, use new skills, and push himself to apply those skills in meaningful ways. He also seeks to understand the deeper concepts behind Front-End development, not just "get it working". Zach would definitely be an asset to any team looking for someone who learns quickly, is a strong pair-programmer, and who accepts/internalizes/applies feedback quickly."

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Ghani Zahid

Web Development Instructor & Career Coach

"I had the opportunity to teach Zach in my class. He was an excellent and active student. He helped students that were struggling. He created a class project that went above and beyond the minimum guidelines. It would be a pleasure to have him in the class again. Zach is a professional who is eager to push forward and achieve his needs as well as goals. Zach is a great asset and addition to any company or team."


Reading

  • Health & Wellness and Science Fiction
  • Favorite authors include: Max Lugavere, Timothy Zahn, and E.K. Johnston

Recreation

  • Car Camping
  • Trail Hiking
  • Cycling
  • Open Water Kayaking
  • CrossFit

Traveling

  • The United States
  • International