4th Grade Language Arts, History, & Geography; 1st, 3rd, & 5th Grade Latin
University of Cambridge, M.Phil., Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic
Claremont McKenna, B.A., Classical and Religious Studies
Ms. Alice Lyons attended Claremont McKenna for a bachelor’s degree in classics and the University of Cambridge for a master's degree in Anglo-Saxon. She has since taught at classical and private schools. Ms. Lyons says her favorite thing about teaching is, "how quickly you can witness change."
She says, "Students begin a class not knowing a concept, and by the end of the class they know and apply it freely. Seeing students daily develop their minds and souls is rewarding."
Ms. Alice Lyons comes to Jackson Hole Classical Academy from a family of teachers. Her mom taught computer science at her high school in West Chester, New York. Her dad was a business professor. Growing up in the beautiful meadows and woods of rural New York gave her an appreciation for living and playing in the outdoors.
Ms. Lyons attended Claremont McKenna for a bachelor’s degree in classics. After graduation, she taught at a classical Christian school in San Diego for two years. She says, "It was the perfect fit at the time. I remember thinking within weeks, 'This is what I want to do!'" Subsequently, Ms. Lyons attended the University of Cambridge for a master's degree in Anglo-Saxon.
Teaching at a classical school gave Ms. Lyons insight as to the way in which the two previously separate aspects of her life—classical Latin education and Christian faith—could come together. She says, "Classical Christian education is interdisciplinary and tries to make sense of everything through synthesis. It does not give you a fragmentary, but a whole, picture of the world. It finds connections between subjects and adds the 'missing piece' of faith."
A sense of adventure and a love of the outdoors led Ms. Lyons to leave teaching briefly to work in event planning in Zion, Utah for Under Canvas, a "glamping and luxury camping company." She says, "Although I loved the outdoors aspect of the job, my favorite part was teaching people how to camp."
What is Ms. Lyons favorite aspect of teaching? " I love how quickly you can witness change. Students begin a class not knowing a concept, and by the end of the class they know and apply it freely."
When not teaching or camping, Ms. Lyons likes to read. Her current genre of choice is female diaries. About to move to the northern Rockies, Ms. Lyons found the 19th century account "A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains" particularly relevant. She says, "The diary documents Isabella Bird's journey through New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. It's amazing and humbling to think about making that kind of trip back then, when the area was pure wilderness." Ms. Lyons also appreciates Jane Austen and the Roman pastoral author, Tibullus.
Ms. Lyons and her husband Kyle married in the spring of 2020 and are enjoying life together in Jackson Hole.