I am proud to be an original Bull at Hickory Ridge High School.  I have been working in special education for 21 years and have served as a Exceptional Children's Department Chair for 18 years.  However, I have been given an oppurtunity to serve as our graduation coach. I will be able to support students with achieving his/her goals and earning a high school diploma. Furthermore, I will serve the school as the 504 coordinator. I am a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology with a minors in Psychology and Gerontology. Later, I earned my Master Certification in Special Education in Learning Disabilities.

 I believe that every student can learn and can become a productive citizen.  I encourage my students to advocate from themselves, to be motivated to learn, and to create goals to promote future success.  I enjoy working with our students, parents, and staff in order to promote success of each student.

Education has always been a cornerstone for my family.   I truly believe that learning never ends, and I enjoy learning new ideas. In fact, a few summers ago, I took a course through NC State University that addressed working memory, executive functioning, and motivation.  I have learned many new methods to help support our students with learning differences.  Furthermore, I have attached a link for you to experience what a student faces who has a learning difference.  I encourage you to attempt all of these areas.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, gardening, completing crafts, traveling, and spending time with family.  I love to explore tropical islands during vacation.  During my explorations, I have been cave tubing and zip-lining through the tropical rainforest of Belize. However, the most exciting times that I have are spending time with my 3 granddaughters and my dog, Katie.  

I look forward to a positive and productive year working with our students, parents, and staff.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

With Bull Pride,                                                                                                                  

Lisa Kirby