Sometime in late summer — when I must have been in an especially energetic mood — I decided to sign up for an introductory class offered by the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program (CMStep), one of the only MACTE-accredited programs in the country that focuses on Montessori education for ages 12-18. The course provides an overview of the guiding principles and characteristics of American Montessori Society (AMS) Secondary programs; it’s designed for current Montessori educators, administrators, parents, and anyone who may be considering a career as a secondary Montessori teacher. The 6-week class was virtual, of course, and it was scheduled to begin the first week of October and conclude before Thanksgiving. I signed up for a couple of reasons: (1) My 7-year-old daughter attends a Montessori school that ends its formal instruction at 8th grade. I wanted to explore the principles of a secondary program as a curious parent who embraces the Montessori focus on peace and social justice. (2) To help be a better team player in my professional life. I find myself joking about how leaders should guide their teams more like Montessori school teachers. I hoped that whatever I learned in this class would also… Continue Reading 5 takeaways from my adult learner experienceRead More
This post started with a straightforward mission: Thanks to an Innovation Grant from the Educational Foundation, I’m organizing an (optional) improv theater workshop during January in-service. In order to help promote this virtual workshop, I wanted to share some research by UNC Chapel Hill professor Keith Sawyer, author of “The Creative Classroom: Innovative Teaching for 21st-Century Learners.” Very intellectual stuff. But then I read this recent Inside Higher Ed essay by an award-winning biology professor, who explained why attending improv classes made her a better teacher, a better listener, and a better partner. In her essay, this professor credited a TEDx talk by artist Rebecca Northan, who inspired her to sign up improv classes. And now I’m a little emotional after watching the video, so I will share the big takeaways: Fear holds us back. Fear makes us cranky, negative, terrified of failure, and disconnected. Fear makes us say no, in an attempt to feel in control and safe. Does any of this sound familiar? If you find yourself in the fear zone, try these techniques of improv instead: Be positiveSay yes, and see what kind of adventures you might go on.Embrace failure — it’s the fastest way to learn… Continue Reading Falling in love in a time of fearRead More
I’ve written before about the pandemic being a portal (credit: novelist Arundhati Roy), and it’s becoming clear my portal is leading to my teenage self, in all her 1990s glory. A combination of things have rattled some long-dormant memories over the past 6 months: My quarantine closet purges … a playful “two truths and lie” game during our recent Institutional Advancement retreat … and overall soul-searching in a time of crisis. I spent one Sunday in September reflecting on some of the “magic moments” in my life … to help refuel myself during such a difficult year. Most of these moments involve teachers and mentors. I hesitate to share this essay with the whole college. This is a post I wrote for my personal blog, and I poured my heart into it. But I think it’s important to share more about ourselves and the decisions that have brought us together on the same path through Virginia Western. This is one of the most important conversations, isn’t it? What motivates us — and our students — to do our best, most fulfilling work? What do we truly want? I make a couple of obligatory book recommendations … and I also reveal… Continue Reading How to create moments of real magicRead More
About Shelley
Shelley Lyons is glad to be back on campus as she is a Virginia Western alum, and has served as the Administrative Officer for Grants Administration at Virginia Western since early 2022. Prior to VWCC, her career focus was within the Human Services and Arts fields. She wrote her first grant in 1996 on a whim and has continued to plan and learn since that time. She most enjoys seeing a well-planned project come to fruition, where funder, project manager and beneficiaries can all feel success and see impact.
Recent Posts
- Innovation, and the LOI. August 25, 2025
- Some 24/25 Highlights July 16, 2025
- Have you heard? October 28, 2024
- The Game of Life – Innovation Edition! August 29, 2024
- Why Try An LOI? May 10, 2024