Photo by Mark Harrison / The Seattle Times
Lyon Terry is the kind of teacher we’d all love to send our kids to- compassionate, motivating, concerned about the whole student, community focused, and the list of accolades goes on.? Well on Monday, the state of Washington agreed with what many in Magnolia already knew.? Mr. Terry was named Washington State’s?Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made?by State Superintendent Randy Dorn?at?a celebration at EMP that included Terry and eight fellow regional award winners.
?What makes Lyon and all the 2015 Teachers of the Year stand out is that they see the big picture of education,? Superintendent Dorn said. ?They understand that great teachers and schools teach to the heads, hands and hearts of their students. Students must meet academic standards. But they also need to learn how to make things, serve their community, persevere through difficulty and treat others with kindness. Our Teachers of the Year understand that. And it?s why we lift them up as examples for all.?
Lyon, who has taught at Lawton for 9 years,?is a National Board Certified Teacher.?He is described by the?Superintendent’s Office as a “teacher who?focuses on?creating confident, hard-working and compassionate learners.” From Seattle Public Schools:
Lyon said he?wants his students to learn how to be both kind and smart. Lyon believes that community connections strengthen student learning. He fully immerses himself in the community through scouts, sport programs and various non-profits. These connections enrich his classroom with guest presenters and neighborhood volunteer projects.
One of these projects was his highly successful “Walking School Bus” program- the first in Seattle’s history.?Terry had?noticed many of Lawton?s students were riding to school in cars instead of walking, and?recruited older students to serve as crossing guards and bus greeters.
From Seattle Public Schools:
Lyon has served in numerous leadership roles in his school and district, most often in the areas of writing and literacy, and also as a union representative. He has worked to integrate elements of Writer?s Workshop into Lawton and currently sits on a district committee focused on aligning reading and writing with the Common Core. During his time a Lawton, 4th-grade writing proficiency rates on the state Measurements of Student Progress?(MSP) test have risen over 10 percentage points. Lyon believes teachers are agents of social change because they shape young learners into thoughtful citizens. He knows just the right way to engage students in this learning. ?Mr. Terry connects with children, holds them to a high standard of behavior and work ethic, and offers support for them to be successful,? said Former Lawton Principal Neil Gerrans. ?His spot-on timing, knowing when to question and probe and when to slow down seems instinctive, but it is honed by his reflective practice.?
Mr. Terry and the other Regional Teachers of the Year?each?received?donated cash awards, technology prizes and scholarships for classroom improvements.
Up next for this teacher of the year? He will serve as ambassador for the teaching profession while maintaining his duties at Lawton.?Mr. Terry?will also be?in the running?for National Teacher of the Year, awarded by the Council of Chief State School Officers. President Obama will announce the winner in a ceremony at the White House in the spring.
Congratulations, Mr. Terry! I don’t know a single current or former student at Lawton — even those who are a bit jealous they won’t get you as a teacher 🙂 — that would feel it wasn’t *totally* deserved!