OCTOBER 19, 2022 — Now several weeks into her new role as Principal of Lyons Elementary School, Mrs. Chris Taylor is thoroughly enjoying the process of finding her groove in the District.
She loves welcoming kids into school each morning and getting to know the staff. After spending the last 26 years of her career at the Geneva City School District, she was a bit nervous to make such a big switch, but thankfully she says it was 100% the right move.
“When I learned about the team that Dr. Barr was putting together at Lyons, I recognized the quality and caliber of people and I felt like so much of the culture was student-driven — and I wanted to be a part of it,” Mrs. Taylor said. “Now, I am so grateful to be in Lyons.”
Much of the summer was spent preparing for the upcoming school year — getting new teachers acclimated, getting organized, establishing systems to keep things running smoothly — and now it’s been great to see students filling the halls once again.
“I had heard very amazing things about this community, the students and staff,” Mrs. Taylor said. “The reputation of Lyons Central School District was stellar, and living it now, I can definitely agree with what everyone was telling me.”
One key aspect Mrs. Taylor has tried to take with her into this position is the core belief that she is, first and foremost, a teacher.
“I didn’t set out to be in administration — I always said that I am a teacher,” Mrs. Taylor said. After going to SUNY Geneseo for Elementary Education, Mrs. Taylor was a teacher at Geneva’s North Street School prior to becoming an Instructional Coach, then Assistant Principal and Principal in the years that followed.
Mrs. Taylor brings the same energy and enthusiasm she brought to the classroom all those years ago to her new office in the Elementary School.
“I get up in the morning and I want to come to work every day,” she said. “I look forward to the positive energy that is in this building and I want to produce that in students and staff — that every day they want to be here.”
Moving forward, Mrs. Taylor plans to celebrate student successes this year. Each month, LES will be doing grade-level house assemblies on different themes, such as self-management (which ties into social-emotional learning) and literacy.
“It’s a time for us to come together and celebrate success,” Mrs. Taylor said. “Because that’s what it’s all about — the students and their successes.”