Barbara Ballard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Ballard
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| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 44th district |
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| Assumed office January 11, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Sandy Praeger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 14, 1944 Petersburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Albert Ballard |
| Residences | Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Webster College (BMEd) Kansas State University (MS, PhD) |
Barbara W. Ballard, born on November 14, 1944, is a well-known politician from Kansas. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Since 1993, she has represented the 44th district in the Kansas House of Representatives. This means she helps make laws for the state of Kansas.
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Meet Barbara Ballard: Kansas State Representative
Barbara Ballard was born in Petersburg, Virginia. Before becoming a state representative, she worked for her local community. From 1985 to 1993, she served on the Lawrence School Board. This board helps make decisions for schools in the Lawrence area.
Her Journey to Public Service
Barbara Ballard has a strong background in education. She earned her first college degree from Webster College in 1967. Later, she continued her studies at Kansas State University. There, she earned a Master of Science degree in 1976 and a doctorate in 1980.
She started her career as an elementary school teacher. This means she taught young students. From 1980 to 2004, she worked at the University of Kansas. She was the dean of students, helping college students with their needs. She also directed the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center. Today, she is a senior associate director at the Dole Institute of Politics. This institute helps people learn about politics and public service.
Leading in the Legislature
As a state representative, Barbara Ballard holds important leadership roles. She is the treasurer of the Kansas African American Legislative Caucus. This group works to make sure the voices of African Americans are heard in the state government. She is also the chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus. This means she leads the group of Democratic representatives in the Kansas House.
How She Helps: Committee Work
State representatives work in groups called committees. These committees study different topics and propose new laws. Barbara Ballard has served on many important committees. She helps make decisions about how the state spends its money. This is done in the Appropriations Committee. She also works on committees that help people in need. These include the Social Services Budget Committee. She also helps oversee programs like KanCare, which provides health services.
