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Sarah Lyons ’06 (Larchmont, N.Y.) took the knowledge gained in Lafayette classrooms and used it in classrooms across the Palisades School District.
She taught Spanish to elementary-age students through a semester-long internship, spending about four hours per week with Sueann Jefferson, a Spanish teacher at the Springfield and Durham Nockamixon elementary schools.
“The children reacted enthusiastically and passionately,” says Lyons, a double major in psychology and Spanish. “I didn’t realize that [they] would be this excited about learning Spanish.”
Developing lesson plans exploring the language and culture of Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, Lyons presented the material to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“Through the course of the internship, Sarah came to recognize the detail and attention required to engage students while at the same time creating a setting that will ensure their success as they are learning,” Jefferson says.
She adds that Lyons took the internship seriously and was conscientious to perform to the best of her abilities. Lyons’ lesson plan skills improved over the course of the internship, and she learned to recognize the various levels of learners in a classroom setting.
“Sarah is a very positive representative of Lafayette and its students,” says Jefferson. “Her positive attitude, hard and ethical work habits, ability to adapt and adjust to a variety of situations, and interactions with students and teachers reflect the positive attributes to which Lafayette should be proud to claim.”
Lyons says she worked hard during the internship to keep the level of teaching consistent with Jefferson’s so that she would equally challenge the students.
“I could not have done this without the help and support of Mrs. Jefferson,” she says. “Her dedication is amazing.”
Although she would like to pursue a career in media, Lyons also would like to make use of her psychology and Spanish skills either in graduate school or a career in school psychology.
“I think that this internship will help with my career plans, regardless of what I decide to do,” she says.
Previously, Lyons interned at Little Airplane Productions, a company that produces children’s television shows. She gained hands-on experience in the field of children’s media programming by testing the quality of English television programming. By using skills that she learned through her psychology major, Lyons monitored children’s responses during viewing sessions.
“I think that Lafayette encourages internships,” Lyons says, adding that she is impressed with her learning experience as a double major. “Both departments have been supportive and understanding of the fact that I’m a science and language double major.”
Lyons is vice president of membership for Delta Gamma sorority and a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish honor society. She graduated from Mamaroneck High School.