The YMCA hosted the 2021 Annual Teacher Prayer Breakfast featuring worship music by Michael Bridges, Texas Country Boys. If you have not heard him sing please take a moment to listen. He has a beautiful sound and is a talented guitar player.
How To Be An Effective Teacher
The keynote speaker, Linda Lyon a graduate from Texas Tech University began her career in Irving ISD. She taught there for 6 years before getting married and moving to Rockwall ISD where she worked for 31 years as a teacher and counselor. Mrs. Lyon retired in 2011, but still loves volunteering in RISD when possible. She has been married for 42 years to Terence Lyon, a retired Battalion Chief with Dallas Fire Rescue and they have 2 children and 2 granddaughters. After living in Rockwall for 38 years, she and her husband bought a ranch in East Texas where they raise cattle and enjoy fishing, relaxing and all the other pleasures of retirement. Linda was honored as the namesake of the 14th elementary school in Rockwall ISD, Linda Lyon Elementary School, which opened in 2017.
Mrs. Lyon shared a bit of the back story of how the school was named after her. As long as she had worked there she was not familiar with that process. President Bailey reached out to her regarding a report that he was working on behalf of the school board, but it was simply an opportunity to let her know that through the process of asking the community to suggest a name and why. There was a substantial amount of alumni’s and community leaders who wrote in her name. Mrs. Lyon was overwhelmed and accepted the honor.
As she spoke to community leaders, elected officials and many teachers. She expressed, “You can teach math all day long. Teaching has to be more than that.” It wasn’t until much later in life that she had seen the fruit of her impact and how she made a difference in student’s lives. She shared how educational speaker Harry Wong taught how to be an effective teacher. “It starts with how to begin the school year in greeting the student at the door–that it is so important. How you welcome them into your classroom.”
She went beyond what was required of her by writing letters to the parents of her students. “It was key to developing those relationships. The students need you more than you may ever know. Those hugs, that encouraging word, asking them how they are doing and spending time with the students as you teach your lessons. To be successful in education you must show your students that you love them and care for them.”
A Teachers Impact
Several students came to mind that she shared personal stories of them in their elementary years. One particular student noticed one of the fishes she caught and was hooked when he learned that fishing was one of her favorite hobbies. She recalls that this student always wanted to be a firefighter and he did become a firefighter. Rockwall Fire Chief Kenneth Cullins told his fond memories of how she impacted his life and that he respected what her husband did in working with Dallas Fire Rescue. Two other former students that were brothers named Nathan Hodges and Andrew Hodges who both became her dentist. She was so proud of them in how far they succeeded in life. As she shared about her connection with the young men that was so impactful and meaningful is when they volunteered at Career Day. She said, “They would share how to become a dentist and what it took to get there. It was those moments that they may not even realize it, but it could give that student something to look forward to, to achieve or hope.”
It is wonderful to see how many of the lives she impacted had become public servants, local business owners and volunteering in a number of ways in giving back to their Rockwall community.
Team Building
Mrs. Lyon ended with encouragement and advice to educators that not everyday is going to be easy. “Lean on your teammates. It’s extremely important for that support. Have patience. Smile. Love the kids. You will see great things.”
Door Prize Winner
Local businesses provided a number of prizes. And of course after dozens of raffle tickets called, I won a 3 nights stay on Lake Ouachita. Which is actually perfect timing, because I do feel that I need another vacation.
