Bridget Lyon, a fifth and sixth grade science teacher at Panama Central School, has recently become a Master Teacher. Submitted photo

PANAMA — After a lengthy process, a teacher at Panama Central School has officially achieved Master Teacher status.

Bridget Lyon, a fifth and sixth grade science teacher, originally applied to become a Master Teacher because of her love of science.

“I’ve always considered myself to be a life-long learner,” she said. “I also love science and collaborating with others. I want to see what is out there and want my students to have more opportunities.”

Lyon said that collaboration with others is a key part of the Master Teacher program, specifically collaborating with other teachers in the same field, something that she said is also important to do in a small school district.

To become a Master Teacher, Lyon had to go through what was about a 10-month process that went in stages. First, she had to apply and, once she received the email, after the original application saying she was able to be considered she had to do another huge application with multiple steps.

The steps considered things such as teaching style and included a middle school science test — the Praxis Middle School Science Teacher test — which Lyon said she was actually a little bit nervous about.

“My master’s is in literacy, not science,” Lyon said. “This is my 26th year teaching. I did eight years in Florida before being in Panama for 18. I started teaching reading intervention and then moved to fourth grade.”

It was while teaching fourth grade that Lyon said she noticed kids having a curiosity surrounding science. That was when she began to advocate for students to have more science opportunities in the school. She gave an example of getting grants to allow for more scientific projects, such as the tower gardens she was able to have installed in her classroom last year. Because of her interest and love of science while teaching fourth grade, when the school was in need of a fifth and sixth grade science teacher, they asked her.

Besides the test the process also included references, and when Lyon was told she was a finalist there were interviews back in June that did things like show how she was able to collaborate with others. The official Master Teacher announcement was made in mid-November.

Now as a Master Teacher, Lyon goes to the Western New York hub at Buffalo State a few times a month to join cohorts who meet and talk about what they are doing around the state. This goes throughout the year and in the summer they offer professional development opportunities such as visiting the Adorondacks and learning about rock formations.

“An important part of my teaching style is that I don’t teach in one particular way,” Lyon said. “I like to think of it like a toolbox and I constantly put in tools to take out and use later. With my literary background I am excited for the opportunity to grow my science knowledge and serve my district along with my love of science.”

Part of collaborating with other Master Teachers for Lyon is the ability to bring the tools she will learn back to the classroom to help her students grow and move beyond the classroom. She wants to help motivate her students by showing them that she is still a student too.

“Personal growth doesn’t just happen from the ages five to 18,” Lyon said. “You still have goals as you go through life. I am a continual learner and want to see what is available out there and reflect on my students’ needs in the classroom and district.”

Lyon gave an example of a field trip to Northwest Arena to help students learn about and see friction in a real life way.

There are about 20 other teachers in Chautauqua County that have earned Master Teacher status.

Future plans for Lyon include continuing to go up to Buffalo, more professional development opportunities, and to put more tools in her toolbox. She added that eventually some Master Teachers can become presenters and present at The Science Teachers Association of New York State. She also wants to learn more about grants and grant writing.

The main focuses of the Master Teacher program are knowing STEM content and how teachers know their students and families and how that knowledge reflects in their teaching. Lyon gave an example of when she was teaching fourth grade and she knew her students needed more support at home and were struggling with math. She attended personal development and using the flipped classroom strategy, found a way to let students watch a video of her teaching the lesson and then answer one question for homework. Lyon said this allowed for more time the next day to help students understand and practice.

She added that she has always been appreciative of the support of her school.

“I always appreciate the school district and community for pushing me and allowing me to do things like this,” Lyon said. “The administration and my colleagues have always been super supportive and allowed me to seek professional development. That really makes a difference.”