ruth.lyons: Curriculum Vitae

Ruth E. Lyons, Ph.D.

(207) 399-9699 • ruthlyons@gmail.com

Academic Preparation

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

Professional Experience

August 2014 - Present:

RSU 22 School District - Hampden, Winterport, Newburgh, and Frankfort (Maine)

Gifted and Talented Coordinator (K-12)

Implementation of Individualized Learning Plan meetings for all identified students and families
Creation of Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) for identified students
Testing for students in grades 2, 5, 8
Direct services with GT students in grades 2-7
Total School Cluster Grouping point person
Completion of Teacher Observations for GT Teachers
Completion of the yearly State of Maine Annual Report for the RSU 22 GT Program
Member of RSU 22 Administrative Team
Creation of budget for RSU 22 GT Program
Facilitation of community partners with schools
Creation of monthly newsletter for district stakeholders

November 2014 - Present:

The New England Institute for Teacher Education - Stonington, ME (courses are endorsed through Endicott College and Burlington College)

EDE 527 - Educating Gifted & Talented Learners
EDE 525 - Curriculum for Gifted & Talented Learners
EDE 524 - Creative and Critical Thinking

2012 – August 2014:

The Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy - Hartford Public Schools (Connecticut)

Principal/Director (grades 4-10)

Successful experience designing and growing the Renzulli Academy school plan from a grade 4-6 school within a school in 2009 to a stand alone Connecticut School of Distinction grades 4-10 Academy in 2014.
Implemented research-based techniques and pedagogy to increase student success and opportunities.

2010: 89% of the student body at goal or mastery level on the State Assessment (Connecticut Mastery Test)
2011: 95% of the student body at goal or mastery level on the State Assessment (Connecticut Mastery Test)
2012: 101.8% of the student body at goal or mastery level on the State Assessment (Connecticut Mastery Test). The district transitioned to SPI (School Performance Index), Renzulli’s was 94.9
2013: School Performance Index of 92.4 on the State Assessment (Connecticut Mastery Test)

Led teachers to use data to drive instruction, provided expertise in adapting curriculum and implementing the Schoolwide Enrichment Model.
Served as a resource with the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and the Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Reading (SEM-R).
Managed the Renzulli Academy budget to maximize the use of resources, including a 1:1 laptop program for all students at the Renzulli Academy
Completed the district identification for gifted and talented students in Hartford Public Schools and oversaw the student enrollment and identification at the Renzulli Academy
Promoted the Academy in the Hartford Community to increase enrollment
Conducted monthly parent meetings and created a Parent Teacher Organization as well as community outreach with a number of Hartford businesses.
Established a School Governance Council.
Oversaw and managed University of Connecticut affiliated partnerships, including the development of a four week summer enrichment program.
Provided tours and informational sessions to visitors from around the world about the curriculum and the philosophy of the Renzulli Academy
Coordinated academic competitions for students, such as the Invention Conventions, National History Day, and National Geography Bee where many students placed at the school, district, and state level.

Awarded the Administrator of the Year, 2011-2012, Connecticut Association of the Gifted

2009-2012:

Confratute at University of Connecticut – Storrs, CT

Research Assistant, Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development
On-site Coordinator, Confratute – UConn’s Annual Summer Institute in Enrichment Teaching and Learning

2009 – 2012:

The Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy - Hartford Public Schools (Connecticut)

Lead Teacher (Science for grades 4-6 and Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Reading for grades 4-6)

Wrote the school design plan for The Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy and was the leader in presenting this to the school board and gaining approval as a school in February 2011.
Developed the identification and application process for student enrollment at the Renzulli Academy
Adopted and approved curriculum models that promote high academic achievement, task commitment, and creativity for Hartford’s high potential youth.

Curriculum evolves in three tiers: providing the opportunity for students to develop depth, complexity, and academic curiosity.

Awarded the Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship, 2010, National Association for Gifted Children

2007-2009:

Skowhegan Area Middle School – MSAD #54 (Skowhegan, Maine)

Gifted and Talented Teacher

Algebra I (High School Honors)
Gifted and Talented Language Arts (7th and 8th grade)
Yearbook Advisor
MathCounts Math Team Coach
Spelling Bee Master for School and District

2004-2007:

Bloomfield Elementary School – MSAD #54 (Skowhegan, Maine)

Third and Fourth Grade Teacher (looping experience)

Fourth Grade Lead Teacher
Principal Intern 2006-2007
Member of Student Assistant Team
Team Advisor for the Civil Rights Team
Teacher Mentor for Student Teachers and Practicum Students
Collaborated with special education teachers to establish an inclusion model classroom

2002-2004

Intermediate School 216 – NYC Public Schools (Bronx, NY)

Fifth Grade Teacher

Yearbook Editor
Teacher of Honors Level Classes
School Leadership Committee Chair
New York City Teaching Fellow (AmeriCorp funded program)

State Educational Certifications

CONNECTICUT:

Intermediate Administration and Supervision (092)
Certified Elementary Education Teacher K-6 (005)

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

NEW YORK:

Certified Elementary Education Teacher (1-6)

Publications

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.

Presentations

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. Lewiston, ME.

Lyons, R. (2015, October). Prepping for the Praxis. Maine Educators of Gifted and Talented Annual Conference. Lewiston, 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.

Lyons, R. (2014, October). Differentiation in the K-2 Classroom. RSU 22 Teacher Inservice, Hampden, ME.

Lyons, R. (2014, July). Replicating the Renzulli Academy: Designing a SEM School. The University of Connecticut’s 37th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Lyons, R. (2014, July). Schoolwide Enrichment Model: Breakout Session for Elementary. The University of Connecticut’s 37th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Lyons, R. (2013, November). The Creation of a School: The Renzulli Academy. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Lyons, R. (2013, July). Replicating the Renzulli Academy: Designing a SEM School. The University of Connecticut’s 36th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Lyons, R. (2013, July). The Gifted Learner’s Road to Self-discovery: A look at building resiliency, self-concept and self efficacy within the Gifted Child. The University of Connecticut’s 36th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Finn, Chester E., Borland E., Kortlan-Cox, B., & Lyons R. (2013, April). Raising the education ceiling: Where do high achieving students fit in educational reform? Yale School of Management Leadership Conference, New Haven, CT.

Lyons, R. (2012, November). Applying the Schoolwide Enrichment Model at the Renzulli Academy. National

Association for Gifted Children National Conference, Denver, CO.

Reis, S.M., Morales-Taylor, M., & Lyons, R. (2012, July). The Renzulli Academy: Student Panel. The University of Connecticut’s 35th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Lyons, R. (2012, July). The Renzulli Academy: How to replicate a culture of success and opportunity. The University of Connecticut’s 35th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Lyons, R. (2011, November). The Creation of a School: The Renzulli Academy. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Lyons, R. & Helbling, J. (2011, November). Knowing your Adolescent Reader: Applying SEM-R in the middle school classroom. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Lyons, R. (2011, October). Applying the Schoolwide Enrichment Model: An introduction to the Enrichment Triad Model. Patai Udom Suksa School, Bangkok, Thailand.

Lyons, R. (2011, October). Applying Gifted Pedagogy through Creativity. Patai Udom Suksa School, Bangkok, Thailand.

Lyons, R. (2011, October). The Creation of a School: The Renzulli Academy. New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, Burlington, VT.

Lyons, R. (2011, October). Self-regulation Habits of Urban Youth. New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, Burlington, VT.

Lyons, R. (2011, August). The Creation of a School: The Renzulli Academy. The World Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, Prague, Czech Republic.

Lyons, R. (2011, August). Self-regulation habits of Urban Youth. The World Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, Prague, Czech Republic.

Lyons, R. (2011, July). The Creation of a School: The Renzulli Academy. The University of Connecticut’s 34th Annual Confratute, Storrs, CT.

Helbling, J. & Lyons, R. (2010, November). Knowing your Adolescent Reader: Applying SEM-R in the middle school classroom. National Association for Gifted Children National Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Lyons, R. (2010, October). Action Lab: The Renzulli Academy. New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, Hartford, CT.

Awards

Harry Passow Classroom Teacher Scholarship, 2010, National Association for Gifted Children
Administrator of the Year, 2011-2012, Connecticut Association of the Gifted

Grants

2012 – Funded: Summer Enrichment Program Grant

Sponsor: Jack Kent Cooke
Awardee: Renzulli, J.S., Lyons, R., & Muller, L. – Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Amount: $750,000 ($250,00 for each summer, three year funding)

2014 – Funded: Open Choice Capital Grant

Sponsor: CT State Department of Education
Awardee: Lyons, R. – Renzulli Academy; Hartford, CT
Amount: $75,000 (to complete a dedicated library space)

Service

Advisory Board Member for NAGC Teaching for High Potential, September 2015 - Present
NAGC Leadership Development Committee, December 2015 - Present
NAGC Tech Task Force Member, NAGC Computers and Technology Network - October 2014 - Present
Maine State Department of Education Professional Development Committee - October 2015 - Present
Maine Association for Gifted and Talented Board Member - October 2015 - Present
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