The Lyon Roars
News & Updates
Letter from the Chief Executive Officer: Fall 2026
Over the summer and in our fall newsletter, we focus on connectivity and how it is essential to us as humans. Our relationships, or lack thereof, affect our well-being, either positively or negatively. The start of a new school year brings greater connectivity among students, whose need for strong emotional friendships is paramount. It is…
A Legacy of Learning: The Liz LeBaron Memorial Scholarship
Years ago, educator Liz LeBaron led a group of students on a bicycle trip to Walden Pond, where they explored the natural surroundings and wrote poetry inspired by what they experienced. The project brought reading and writing beyond the classroom and into the world around them. It became such a meaningful part of her teaching…
A New Chapter for Read! Learn! Succeed!
For a young child, receiving a book of their own can be a small but meaningful moment. It is a story they can carry home, share with someone they love, and return to again and again. Over time, those moments can help a child begin to see reading not simply as something they do in…
From Student to Intern: A Full-Circle Journey
As a local student growing up in Hawley and attending Mohawk Trail, Emily Sisum took part in field trips and classroom activities that helped shape her education. What she did not know at the time was that the Mary Lyon Foundation had helped make many of those experiences possible. Emily’s first visible connection to MLF…
Remembering Marion Taylor
The Mary Lyon Foundation joins the West County community in remembering Marion Taylor, a founding member of the Foundation and a lifelong champion of local education and community life. Marion devoted decades to strengthening the region she loved through her work with local schools and through her deep involvement in organizations including the Girl Scouts,…
The Road to Independence
For many students in rural communities, learning to drive is more than a milestone. It is a gateway to independence, employment, and opportunity. This year, a new partnership between Mohawk Trail Regional High School and JaDuke Driving School is helping make that opportunity more accessible, with support from the Mary Lyon Foundation. The collaboration brings a driver’s education course…
Congrats to Pat Thayer
The Mary Lyon Foundation would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Pat Thayer, President of Hilltown Churches Food Pantry, for being named the Greenfield Recorder’s Citizen of the Year. Pat’s generosity of spirit and passion for feeding and caring for the surrounding community are truly inspiring. The Foundation feels proud to work and partner with…
MA Association of Student Council’s State Conference
The Mary Lyon Foundation made a financial contribution to Mohawk Trail Regional School Student Council for three students to attend the MA Association of Student Council’s State Conference. Retired teacher Robert Mastorakis attended as a mentor and chaperone. MTRS Student Council President Landon Clark shares the impact of the experience on him as a student leader. “This past week…
Every Child Deserves a Seat on the Bus This Summer
Last summer, four Union 38 students packed their lunches, boarded buses, and stepped into a summer they might not otherwise have had. Because of support from the Mary Lyon Foundation’s Union 38 Family Fund, those four children were able to attend River Valley Day Camp, a place filled with field trips, laughter, new friendships, and…