LISA HINES

Once upon a time there was a very shy girl who spent most of her retreating into books, until one day her mother forced her to take a drama class with a performance requirement. After weeks of preparation, that girl stood on a stage in front of an audience and delivered a line that was met with raucous laughter. And, when she indicated that she was going to speak again, the audience fell silent, waiting to hear her next line. At that moment, everything changed. 

Lisa Hines believes that storytelling is not just a powerful medium; it is the main way we interact with and understand the world. It is how God speaks to us and through us. As The Ecclesial School at Northland’s Arts and Letters teacher, Mrs Hines plays a crucial role in shaping students' understanding of culture, history, and the human experience. This type of education is not just about imparting knowledge but also about cultivating wisdom, critical thinking, and an appreciation for beauty and truth. Her role is important because she helps students explore the rich heritage of literature, philosophy, art, and history that forms the foundation of Western civilization. By engaging with great works of literature and art, students learn to think deeply, articulate their ideas clearly, and understand the moral and ethical dimensions of human life. 

Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching Drama and English at Sam Houston State University in 1991 and has been teaching drama ever since. During her time in Texas schools, she became very interested in an educational philosophy that rejected the common practice of using rewards and punishment to motivate students, instead proposing that classrooms should be structured like communities in which students are expected to cooperate and contribute, becoming “citizens not tourists.” This philosophy became a strong influence in her approach to education.

In 1996, Lisa was whisked away to Florida by her Prince Charming where she discovered Classical Christian education at The Geneva School. There, she worked for 17 years building a drama program and, more recently, a House System. She is very excited to join the team at The Ecclesial School full time and assist in developing a vibrant House System!

Lisa resides in Casselberry with her husband Ron VP of Themed Entertainment at Paramount. Her daughter Ariel (23) is an airboat-driving research scientist in the Everglades and her son Isaac (20) is training to be a plumber here in Orlando. She loves watching birds, looking for snakes, writing poetry and plays, and participating in live theatre.