Lisa Lord has been a member of the school system for over 30 years, 22 years in SCPS, and before that for a decade in Virginia. She enjoys teaching students and is amazed by how they learn in various ways.

Ms. Lord enjoys teaching students how to mentor other students. Members of her PIT Crew work with students on different subjects, such as helping them with their college decisions, and teaching them how to succeed in life. 

Ms. Lord shared her advice with those who wish to become teachers of special needs students, “This has always been my passion. All students want the same things, to be loved, and educated and to feel safe in and outside the classroom. Students with disabilities feel the same way. Sometimes you have to do these things differently with people who do not understand the same way. We all learn differently and we as ESE teachers have to understand what the differences are and how to accommodate these differences.”

Ms. Lord currently coaches tennis at Winter Springs and used to coach bowling at Airport Lanes in Sanford for the youth league, she has been coaching for 18 years and has been coaching at WSHS for seven years. They have come close several times and made it to third place for boys and fourth for girls, “It is a competitive world out there,” said Lord. 

Outside of school, Ms. Lord loves to travel in her RV, loves butterflies, and hangs out with friends and family. She has a dog, cat, bird, and six different varieties of fish. She also has three children, one of them working in the school system and who was once a paraprofessional in the ESE department. She also ran the testing room for ESE, where students who had accommodations could test in a quieter small group setting as well and she’s currently a substitute teacher.

Ms. Lord provided her advice for those who wish to be a teacher. She said, “Be informed and educated on what you are getting yourself into.  It is important to know what the job requires and the commitment that you are embarking on and ask for help when you need it. Teacher mentors are a great starting point.”