Official name, principal chosen for Elementary14

(ROCKWALL, TX — Dec. 21, 2016) On Monday, Dec. 19, at their regularly scheduled meeting, the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the 14th elementary school in the district Linda Lyon Elementary School. Mrs. Lyon taught for 37 years with 31 of those years in Rockwall ISD.

“As a board member who grew up in this community, I am so proud of the honorable and distinguished names on our schools,” said Jon Bailey, a Rockwall ISD Board Member. “These individuals were noble educators who were also pillars of our community held in high-esteem for their career serving the children and families of Rockwall County.”

A sub-committee of the Board of Trustees considered options based on community input and presented their final recommendation to the board on Monday evening.

Mrs. Lyon and her immediate family were present in addition to friends who came to show their support. After the board voted to approve a resolution naming the new school, Mrs. Lyon was presented with a plaque of the resolution to commemorate the occasion.

Mrs. Lyon graduated from high school in Dallas and then attended Texas Tech University in which she graduated from in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She then earned her master’s degree in guidance and counseling in 1984 from East Texas State University in Commerce.

Her teaching career began in Irving ISD at Brandenburg Elementary where she taught for six years before coming to Rockwall ISD in 1979. During her 31-year career in Rockwall ISD, she served 3rd grade students at Dobbs Elementary then moved to the new Rochell Elementary in 1980. She then taught one year in the intermediate school, from 1983-84, before returning to Rochell to teach 5th grade. She continued teaching 5th grade until 1989 when she became the counselor serving both Cullins-Lake Pointe and Rochell Elementary for nine-weeks before returning to Rochell as the full-time counselor until her retirement in 2011.

Since her retirement, she has been active in the community as a board member with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and a classroom volunteer at Rochell Elementary. During her teaching career, she was a finalist for the Rochell Elementary Teacher of the Year award and was nominated by the local Aspasians Club for Soroptomist Woman of the Year. She lived in Heath for 20 years, which is the location of the new elementary school.

Linda has been married to Terence Lyon for 37 years. He recently retired as Battalion Chief of Dallas Fire Department. They have two children: Josh, who currently lives in Heath with his wife and two children, and Lindsey, an Emergency Room nurse who works at Presbyterian Hospital in Rockwall.

Rockwall ISD also welcomes Megan Gist as the principal of Linda Lyon Elementary School.

Ms. Gist is the current principal of Cain Middle School and she will remain as principal until a replacement is named. While transitioning to Linda Lyon Elementary, Ms. Gist will continue serving students, parents and staff at Cain MS, but will also meet with future Linda Lyon students, parents and staff as well. She will be at Amy Parks-Heath Elementary Tuesday, December 20 at dismissal and Wednesday, December 21 for drop off to meet parents and students.

“Ms. Gist’s strong leadership, already established family relationships and understanding of the community’s high expectations are great assets as we prepare for the opening of a new elementary school,” said Superintendent Dr. John Villarreal. “Cain Middle School is important to us as well. Our expectation is to bring excellent leadership to our Cain parents and staff as we fill the position.”

Ms. Gist earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Northwestern State University, a Master of Education from Texas A&M Commerce and is pursuing a Doctorate at Texas A&M Commerce in Educational Administration.

This is Ms. Gist’s 18th year in public education. Over the past seven years, while at Rockwall ISD, she has served as a fifth-grade teacher at Doris Jones Elementary School and principal for Maurine Cain Middle School and Doris Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School.

She will begin as principal at Linda Lyon Elementary when the school opens in the fall of 2017.

Submitted press release. Photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.