As Senior Vice President, Global Academics for Christel House, Morty brings a strong history of starting, growing and supporting schools and school leaders both in the U.S. and globally. Before joining Christel House, Ballen was the Program Director for Global Schools Forum (GSF), an NGO that advocates for and strengthens the non-state education sector (mostly low-fee independent schools). Prior to his role at GSF, he was the Founder & CEO of Explore Schools, located in Brooklyn, NY, which grew over twenty years to a network of eight charter schools providing 2,000 low-income elementary and middle school students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college-preparatory high school. 

Morty began his career as an middle and high school English teacher in Louisiana, then South Africa, and New York City. Morty earned his B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College and earned his M.A. in Educational Administration from Teachers College/Columbia University.