When fifth-grade teacher Megan Lewis was hired to teach at Lyons Farm Elementary, she jumped at the opportunity to create the culture of a brand-new school. The school opened in fall 2022, and for two years, she had plenty of space to get creative, using empty classrooms to do yoga with her students and hold reading groups.
In year three, enrollment picked up. The school hired a fourth teacher on Lewis’ team. Classes filled every room, and Lewis was excited to see Lyons Farm grow.
When enrollment kept climbing last school year, teachers began crunching into new spaces. Spanish and STEM teachers were displaced from their rooms and instead began visiting classes with carts. The occupational therapist set up her office in the kitchen and students were pulled into hallways or stairwells for small-group instruction…