'Humbling': Hiland Park Elementary paraprofessional nabs Florida's top school employee award

PANAMA CITY — When paraprofessional Greg Lyon was called to Hiland Park Elementary on Friday morning for an announcement, he didn't know what to expect.

He said he definitely was not expecting to hear he had received the state's top award for his work as a support employee.

"I knew they were making an announcement, but then they had Mrs. Sheila walk me around and say, 'Hey, in the wake of what happened in Texas, we want to ask you about some security stuff' because I was in the Navy for 21 years," Lyon said. "So she was walking me around campus while they were setting it up, so I had no idea."

Lyon was surprised with the Florida Department of Education's School-Related Employee of the Year award, showcasing his dedication and passion for his work.

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The award recognizes outstanding education support personnel for the significant contributions they make to their schools and district school systems. Hiland Park Elementary Principal Ilea Faircloth, Superintendent Bill Husfelt and school employees joined in the surprise.

After walking into the room to thunderous applause and receiving his award from Husfelt, Lyon said it was exciting and humbling to know his work with Hiland Park students was noticed and appreciated.

"It is very humbling because I love teaching and I love bringing what I bring to the classroom, but now, you know, I'm gonna have to bring it up," Lyon joked. "I'm gonna have to do even more next year. Not that I care, I love it. I've already got a bunch of projects in mind to bring for the class next year."

Lyon won Bay County's "Ann F. Smith Support Employee of the Year" in January. He has been a paraprofessional at the school for three years, joining the Hiland Park community when he taught a single first-grader.

"He moved on to second grade and I loved first grade so much that I'm like, 'Look, I want to stay in first grade,'" Lyon said. "I want to keep teaching these guys here because it's just so much fun."

From helping children master challenging words on their spelling tests to dominating math problems, he said he has a blast teaching his students.

He also implements his Native American background into his lessons. Lyon was introduced to the different cultures in Boy Scouts, then he and his wife, María, were later adopted into the Muskogee Creek village.

"I also do historical reenactment stuff and fur trader stuff. So, when they start talking about animals, I have several different pelts I can bring in," Lyon said. "Beaver, otter, coyote and so, when they're talking about how their fur protects them, I can bring it in and show them."

On top of his Hiland Park experience, he was a teacher in the Navy for three years. Lyon is a retired Navy senior chief petty officer with 21 years of active-duty military service.

He said his students like to hear stories and fun facts from his times in the Navy.

"When they start talking about the Capitol and the president, I was like, well look here, I've been to the White House. Here's pictures of me in the White House," Lyon said. "So, that's the kind of stuff that I bring in that's a little bit extra or when they're watching an educational video and they're showing the Washington Monument or something I've been to. 'I've been there, I've walked right around here.'"

He said there is a main lesson from his military and Native American backgrounds that he tries to impart to the students: Always remain humble and help those who need it.

He said he is still processing the award and the words of his beloved community. For Lyon, he's just doing what he loves.

"When you're doing it day by day, you don't feel like you're that person, you're just working, you're teaching, you're trying to pass it on and you're just trying to do the best that you can," Lyon said. "I mean, I try to go a little bit extra. I always just try. I always try to go that extra. But it's very humbling."

Lyon now will be up for the nation's top award, something he said stuns him because of the sheer number of amazing teachers and support employees.

As he gears up for his fourth school year, Lyon said he is grateful for the positive impact the school has had on him.

"It's impacted me enough that I'm going to spend my off time coming up here and helping out. I want to, not because I have to, because somebody said hey, can you do this?" Lyon said. "I came to the principal and said, 'Hey, I'm going to come up during the summer, I want to do this, this and this. Is that OK?' So that's how it's impacted me, to where I want to keep giving back to the school."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City paraprofessional wins top state school employee award