Biography
Ruth Lyons earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Gifted Education and Talent Development from the University of Connecticut. She also holds a Master of Science in Education from Fordham University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from the University of Maine at Orono, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photographic Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
With over 20 years of experience in public and private education, Ruth has served in various roles, including classroom teacher, Principal, Adjunct Professor, District Director of Gifted Education Services, and University Supervisor for Student Teachers. She was instrumental in the creation and design of the Renzulli Academy in Hartford, CT, where she served as the first director, guiding the school through its growth and recognition as a Connecticut School of Distinction.
Since returning to Maine, Ruth has led gifted and talented programming as the Director of Gifted Education for RSU 22. Her career also includes leadership roles such as Interim Head of School and Global Curriculum Coordinator at Lee Academy. Ruth has further contributed to the field as President and Past President of the Maine Educators of Gifted and Talented (MEGAT). As an educational consultant, she has worked with numerous school districts across the state, offering professional development and curricular development services.
Outside of her professional life, Ruth is an adoptive mother of three young children. As a family, they enjoy the great outdoors through camping and water activities, and when they’re not busy with those, you’ll find them immersed in books or on the go with a full lineup of extracurriculars—from swimming and hockey to dance, singing, soccer, and theater. Ruth Lyons is still figuring out how to be in three places at once!
Teaching Philosophy
Throughout my career, I have been profoundly influenced by the students I’ve had the privilege of working with. Each individual has left an indelible mark on my approach to education and leadership. Their diverse experiences and perspectives have challenged me to reflect deeply on my practices and continuously evolve as an educator and leader.
While foundational theories from John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Maria Montessori, Howard Zehr, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi have significantly shaped my understanding of education, it is my students who have truly guided my development. They have illuminated the practical realities of educational theory and compelled me to adapt and grow. Their stories and struggles have underscored the need for a teaching philosophy that is both responsive and reflective.
As an educator, I believe that forging strong connections with students, parents, colleagues, and the broader community is essential. Opportunities for growth and success arise from these connections, and it is through them that we can create an environment ripe with possibilities. Understanding and addressing the unique needs of students—whether related to mental health, developmental differences, or socio-emotional challenges—are vital for fostering a supportive and effective educational experience.
Celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion is a cornerstone of my philosophy. It is our duty to model kindness and acceptance, to honor each person’s individuality, and to create spaces where everyone can explore and express their authentic selves. Equally important is empowering students to advocate for their needs and to seek help when necessary. Teaching students to support one another and to take responsibility for their actions fosters a respectful and empathetic learning environment.
My extensive experience in education has revealed both the triumphs and challenges of the field. I view each experience, whether positive or negative, as an opportunity for growth and improvement. My commitment to continuous development is unwavering, and I am eager to collaborate with the Thomas College community to further refine my leadership and contribute to the success of our students and institution.
It is my hope that through our shared efforts, we can cultivate an educational environment that is dynamic, inclusive, and ever-evolving, meeting the needs of our students and the broader community.
Degrees
- PhD, Educational Psychology – dual concentration: Gifted Education & Talent Development and Educational Leadership, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
- Certificate of Advanced Study, Educational Leadership, University of Maine, Orono, ME
- Masters of Science in Teaching, Fordham University, New York, NY
- BFA, Photographic Illustration, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Licenses & Certifications (Maine)
- Assistant Superintendent (015)
- Building Principal (040)
- Gifted and Talented Endorsement (690)
- Certified Elementary Education Teacher K-8 (020)
- Highly Qualified in Mathematics, English Language Arts and Elementary Education
Professional Affiliations
- Maine Association for Gifted and Talented (MEGAT) – President for 2017 – 2019 Term
- Connecticut Association for the Gifted (CAG)
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Publications
- Lyons, R. (2023, November). Ensuring Enrichment. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2023, February). There’s Never Enough Time to Plan for Professional Development. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2022, May). Building Leadership from Within. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2022, February). Leading Through Learning Loss. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2021, May). What Will Remain. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2020, August). Going Off Script. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2020, May). Making Change with Micro-evaluations. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2019, November). Leading Gifted Girls to Redefine Their Definition of Success. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2019, August). Thinking Outside the Box. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2019, May). Market Your G/T Programming to the Masses. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. “The Big List of Student Contests and Competitions” WeAreTeachers, 1 Mar. 2019. Web.
- Lyons, R. (2018, November). Guiding Gifted Girls. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2018, August). Leaders are Learners. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. (2018, May). A Transition to Leadership. Teaching for High Potential.
- Lyons, R. “7 Great Ideas for Using Flocabulary in the Classroom” WeAreTeachers, 22 June 2017. Web.
- Lyons, R. “How to Start a Makerspace for Less Than $20 in Your School” WeAreTeachers, 25 Apr. 2017. Web.
- Lyons, R. “50 Tips, Tricks and Ideas for Teaching Gifted Students” WeAreTeachers, 13 Apr. 2017. Web.
- Lyons, R. “How to Help Gifted Students Find a Place in Your Classroom Community” WeAreTeachers, 28 Mar. 2017. Web.
- Lyons, R. & Reis, S. M. (2012). An application of the schoolwide enrichment model and high-end learning theory to innovation in education. In Larisa Shavinina (Ed.), The Routledge International Handbook of Innovative Education. New York, NY: Routledge.
Dissertation
- Examining the Academic Achievement and Creative Productivity of High-potential Urban Youth
Presentations / Conferences
- Lyons, R. (2020, April). Elevating Effectiveness, Enthusiasm, and Excitement Online. Professional Development for the Grayson School, Virtual.
- Lyons, R. (2019, November). Use Poetry to Enhance Rigor and Depth with GT Students. Maine Educators for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference, Lewiston, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2019, November). Getting Started in Gifted Education, Maine Educators for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference, Lewiston, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2019, April). Assessing Attachment: A Look at Attachment Theory and Emotional Coaching. Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine Annual Spring Conference, Bangor, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2018, November). Testing, Identification, Assessment OH MY! Maine Educators for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference, Orono, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2018, July). Use Poetry to Enhance Rigor and Depth with Gifted Students. The University of Connecticut’s 41st Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2018, July). Creating Student Choice Through Competitions. The University of Connecticut’s 41st Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2017, November). Use Poetry to Enhance Rigor and Depth with Gifted Students. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, Charlotte, NC.
- Lyons, R. (2017, October). Party of ONE: Creating Schoolwide Enrichment Opportunities in your School. New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, Portland, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2017, March). Teaching the Gifted Learner in the Regular Classroom: Part Two. Teacher Inservice for Bangor Christian Schools. Bangor, ME.
- Lyons, R. and Moran, K. (2017, February). Teaching the Gifted Learner in the Regular Classroom: Part One. Teacher Inservice for Bangor Christian Schools. Bangor, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2016, November). Party of ONE: Creating Schoolwide Enrichment Opportunities in your School. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, Orlando, FL.
- Lyons, R. and Moran, K. (2016, October). Use Poetry to Enhance Rigor and Depth with Gifted Students. Maine Educators of Gifted and Talented Annual Conference. Bangor, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2016, October). Prepping for the Praxis. Maine Educators of Gifted and Talented Annual Conference. Bangor, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2016, August). Enrichment Clusters. Ascent Academies of Utah. West Jordan, Utah.
- Lyons, R. (2016, July). Personalizing GT Pedagogy with Purpose: Designing a SEM School. The University of Connecticut’s 39th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2016, July). Schoolwide Enrichment Model: Breakout Session for Coordinators. The University of Connecticut’s 39th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2016, July). Testing, Identification, Assessment OH MY! The University of Connecticut’s 39th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2016, March). Teaching the Gifted Learner in the Regular Classroom. Teacher Inservice for Hermon School Department. Hermon, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2015, October). Testing, Identification, Assessment OH MY! Maine Educators of Gifted and Talented Annual Conference. Lewiston, ME.
- Lyons, R. (2015, July). Replicating the Renzulli Academy: Designing a SEM School. The University of Connecticut’s 38th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2015, July). Schoolwide Enrichment Model: Breakout Session for Coordinators. The University of Connecticut’s 38th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2015, July). Testing, Identification, Assessment OH MY! The University of Connecticut’s 38th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.
- Lyons, R. (2015, July). Videography and Photojournalism. Gifted Education Resource Institute (GERI) at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
- Lyons, R. (2014, November). The Gifted Learner’s Road to Self-Discovery: A Look at Building Resiliency, Self-concept, and Self-efficacy Within the Gifted Child. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, Baltimore, MD.
- Lyons, R. (2014, November). Differentiation Strategies in any Content. RSU 22 New Teacher Training, Hampden, ME.
Honors & Awards
- Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship, 2010, National Association for Gifted Children
- Administrator of the Year, 2011-2012, Connecticut Association of the Gifted
Committee Involvement
- Maine Association for Gifted and Talented (MEGAT) President – May 2017 – September 2019
- Maine Association for Gifted and Talented (MEGAT) Board Member – October 2015 – October 2019
- Advisory Board Member for NAGC Teaching for High Potential, September 2015 – Present
- Maine State Department of Education Professional Development Committee – October 2015 – June 2019
- NAGC Tech Task Force Member, NAGC Computers and Technology Network – October 2014 – November 2016
- Board Member (appointed), Maine School of Science and Mathematics, October 2014 – August 2016
- Board Member (appointed), Connecticut Association for the Gifted, May 2013 – August 2014
