Educators Network Launches
The School of Education is expanding its reach to alumni. Through the Baylor Alumni Network’s new Educators Network, the SOE plans to connect on a more routine basis with School of Education alumni — and with other Baylor alumni who are educators — by hosting events in cities outside of Waco, focusing first on major Texas cities. The Educators Network welcomes all teachers and school and university leaders.
The first chapter, the Dallas-Fort Worth Educators Network, is up and running with regular gatherings and is spearheaded by Baylor music graduate Kevin Lyons, BMEd ’83, assistant principal at Plano West High School. At the group’s November meeting, Dr. Michael McLendon, Dean of the School of Education, was the featured guest, along with Dr. Suzanne Nesmith, associate dean for undergraduate education.
The Dean also attended a Houston Educators Network gathering in February, and more meetings are in the planning stages.
“We want to keep in touch with Baylor alumni who are impacting the world through education, and we want to do it in the most personal way possible — by actually getting to talk with each other,” McLendon said. “They have much to offer us in terms of feedback and input, and we want to know how to serve them better.”
Lyons said he started the Dallas area group out of a desire to meet other educators and reconnect with his Baylor roots. “I looked at the various Baylor Alumni Network groups and saw one for lawyers, parents and business people, but not one for educators, so I reached out to the Network,” he said.
Jon Sisk, director of network engagement for Baylor, said that alumni educators as a group have been difficult to reach, because of their challenging schedules. “It’s terrific that School of Education faculty are willing to come out of town for evening events; that strong connection with the School will help the Educators Network grow.”
Tommye Lou Davis, vice president for constituent engagement, said, “We are pleased that educators who are part of the Baylor family desire to create this affinity group. We know it will be meaningful and will enhance their professional growth and development. The Baylor Alumni Network is eager to assist with this initiative.”
Sisk said that successful Baylor Network groups have strong local leadership that is tuned in to the needs of a specific community. “We are actively on the lookout for alumni who are interested in taking a leadership role for the Educators Network in Texas cities,” he said. To volunteer with the Educators Network, contact Sisk at Jon_Sisk@baylor.edu.
