Avalyn (Avis) Balliet, taught social studies at Austin Middle School in Irving, TX for 17 years. She and other dept leaders followed the latest research to build systems within the school and teams of collaborators. PLC was instituted before it was popular. Broad student success led to many presentations for regional and state conferences. Avis was Teacher of the Year at Austin MS and awarded Secondary District Teacher of the Year in 2000.
In 2011- 2012 school year, Avis joined a of "dream team" of teachers opening the largest net-zero middle school in the country at the time at Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving ISD. The building creates and stores the energy that it consumes; thus negating its carbon footprint. In an effort to become a paperless school, Avis led the social studies department in a pilot program using iPads and cloud technology systems for students to share information with each other and across disciplines using project based learning. She received Teacher of the Year for Johnson MS in 2015.
After 23 years in Irving ISD, Avis moved northeast of Dallas and began a new journey with Wylie ISD. Leading this department through many state testing changes, McMillan JHS continues excellent student achievement and raising exceptional citizens in a SEL program “The Wylie Way” which emphasizes character, responsibility, grit, determination, service and gratitude. After receiving another Teacher of the Year in 2018 and serving 8 years in WISD, Avis retired at the end of 24-25 school year with 31 years of service to over 5000 8th graders.
1994 University of Texas at Dallas, B.A.
