Michelle Martinez

Ballard & Tighe, Publishers

For over 40 years, Ballard & Tighe, Publishers has focused on developing products for English language learners. In 1976, two ESL teachers Wanda Ballard & Phyllis Tighe, created the IDEA Kit - one of the first ESL programs in the country. Ballard & Tighe continues to provide assessment products, English language development instructional materials, a series of unique social studies programs designed for ELLs, and professional development programs to more than 3,500 state, regional, and local school districts throughout the United States and internationally. Carousel of IDEAS and Champion of IDEAS are Ballard & Tighe's ELD/ESL proficiency-based programs and focus on explicit language intstruction. The IPT Family of Tests, Ballard & Tighe's language proficiency assessments are widely used assessment instruments across the U.S. Ballard & Tighe is privately held and headquartered in Orange County, California.