Toren Ballard writes about the proposed reform to PERS potentially increasing Mississippi’s teacher shortage and slashing teaching incentives.Â
Toren Ballard
Toren Ballard is an independent analyst and policy researcher with a focus on improving Mississippi's public education system. Originally from rural Vermont, Toren taught social studies and physical education across every grade level in New York City until finding a passion for public policy and leaving the classroom for graduate school. After graduating from Columbia University Teachers College with a master's degree in Politics & Education, Toren moved to Jackson where he served as K-12 Policy Director at Mississippi First from 2019 to 2025.