About Sh'Nay Ballard

Sh’Nay Collins Ballard is a native Houstonian that was born and raised in the historically known Third Ward area. She is a 1997 graduate of Jack Yates Senior High School. She later matriculated on to Prairie View A&M University to receive her Bachelors in Social Work, graduating in 2001. Passionate about the field of social work, Sh’Nay decided to go straight through to pursue her Masters in Social Work, specializing in children and families, graduating from The University of Houston in 2002.

Accomplishments & Experience

Believing wholeheartedly in forward mobility, in efforts to expand her knowledge and skills to provide more comprehensive services, Sh’Nay entered into another graduate program at the University of Southern Maine. She is a proud 2021 honors graduate! Sh’Nay earned her Masters of Science in Educational Psychology specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis. 

Sh'Nay Ballard

Ms. Ballard’s employment experience consists of working in non-profit at the NAACP Houston Branch serving in the community youth outreach arena in lower income areas where students were deemed “at risk.” The program was tailored for prevention and education around HIV/AIDS and Substance Use and Abuse. She later continued to work in the non- profit field concerning HIV/AIDS under an infrastructure grant at the YWCA- Houston.  

Sh’Nay has always shown interest in making a larger impact so decided to venture out. She served eight years in the Pasadena Independent School District with Communities In Schools, Inc., with what started as a pregnant and parenting school within the district.

Alongside building her own business, Ms. Ballard is currently serving in her 10th year with YES Prep Public Schools as a high school Student Support Counselor at one of the north campuses.

Determination & Vision

Sh’Nay is determined to live a life that not only inspires but positively influences children, adolescents, teens, and young adults to discover their best selves and reach their highest potential. She is the mother of two scholarly and musically gifted children: Amir (16 years old) and Amirah (11 years old). Ms. Ballard enjoys weight training, gardening, road trips, and traveling. She has an extreme passion for fashion and desires to work with celebrities as a fashion consultant, should life ever present her with the extra time and the opportunity to do so! 

" Storms Make Trees Take Deeper Roots."

Dolly Parton

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