Lisa Ryan

“I work the front desk at a small doctor’s office, and I wish people could see what happens on the other side of the phone. Every day, older patients call us confused. They are told to use the patient portal, upload documents, check lab results online, fill out forms before the visit, and confirm everything through a link. Some of them do not know what a portal is. Some do not have a smartphone. Some have one, but they are afraid to click the wrong thing. Last week, a man in his late 80s called about his test results. He said, “Ma’am, I don’t mean to bother you, but the computer says I have a message and I don’t know how to open it.” He sounded ashamed. That broke my heart. He should not have to feel ashamed for needing a human being. Technology can be helpful. I understand that. But when people who built this country are made to feel helpless because everything became a login and a password, we have gone too far. Not everything needs to be an app. Not every answer should be hidden behind a screen. Sometimes people need a voice. A patient person. A real human who says, “Don’t worry, I can help you.” Progress should not leave seniors behind. Because one day, the world will move faster than us too. And I hope someone is kind enough to slow down. ~Unknown

As an Athletic Director, you better learn quickly that if you don’t understand your school’s foundation is academics, you will constantly face internal struggles with teachers and other administrators. At the same time, the best schools also understand that athletics is the front porch of the school. It is often the first thing prospective families see and experience. When schools intentionally invest in both academics and athletics, everyone benefits. Strong academics build the mission of the school, while strong athletic programs build community, school pride, visibility, and relationships that extend far beyond the playing field. The schools that truly excel are the ones that stop viewing academics and athletics as competing priorities and instead recognize that they are partners in creating an exceptional student experience. Great schools don’t choose one over the other. They commit to both.

The transition from player to coach has been pretty seamless for former Iowa State basketball star Emily Ryan. She's enjoyed having an active role in her first year on the ISU coaching staff. 📺📰 STORY: weareiowa.com/article/sports…

The Parent Poison… Most parents want the best for their kids. But sometimes, without realizing it, they slowly poison the very team their child is part of. It rarely starts with something dramatic. It starts small. A comment in the car ride home. “Why didn’t the coach play you more?” A comparison. “You’re better than that kid.” A quiet complaint at the dinner table. “That coach doesn’t know what he’s doing.” Kids hear everything. And when they hear it, something changes. Doubt creeps in. Blame grows. Trust fades. The mindset shifts from team first to me first. What begins in the living room eventually shows up in the locker room. You see it in body language. You hear it in conversations. You feel it in the culture. Instead of unity, there are whispers. Instead of accountability, there are excuses. Instead of growth, there is resentment. Great teams cannot survive that environment. Because the best teams are built on three things: Trust. Sacrifice. Shared purpose. When players start believing the problem is everyone else, those things disappear. Parents play a powerful role in a team’s culture whether they realize it or not. The healthiest teams have parents who: Support the program. Encourage resilience. Teach their kids to handle adversity. They remind their children: Work harder. Be a great teammate. Control what you can control. They don’t feed excuses. They build character. And here’s the truth most people miss: A parent’s influence extends far beyond their own child. It affects the locker room. It affects the culture. It affects the entire team. Great teams require unity, not whispers of criticism. So the challenge for parents is simple. Be the adult in the room. Guard your words. Model respect. Support the team. Because what starts at home always finds its way onto the court, the field, or the locker room. And the best parents don’t poison the culture. They protect it.

𝗜𝗼𝘄𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗕𝗖𝗔 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹 📚 🌪️🏀🌪️ | 📰: tinyurl.com/2ddkb6rd

Right Where She Belongs❗️ Entering the 𝘌𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯, 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 Era! 🌪️🏀🌪️ | 📰: tinyurl.com/yrctcc6u

TOTO & the OZ had a GREAT 🏀🎙️interview w/@CycloneWBB GREAT & @KSHSAA GREAT & @Big12WBB GREAT & @MarchMadnessWBB GREAT @ryan_emily11 ‼️ Hear what she had to say about SO much you don’t want to miss! 34 minutes well spent‼️ 🎙️🏀➡️ on.soundcloud.com/E1gJAuRPs7…

Exceptional on the Court and in the Classroom 🌪️🏀📚 Iowa State is the only program with TWO Academic All-Americans, congratulations Addy and Emily! 📰: tinyurl.com/2ywrkn8g

An Unforgettable Five Years ❤️ The stats & video don't lie, but they don't come close to telling the whole story. Thank you for everything you gave to this program, university and community, @ryan_emily11!

Congratulations to Emily, AJ and Addy for earning CSC Academic All-District honors! 🌪️🏀📚

No matter how far @CycloneWBB goes in the NCAA Tournament, Emily Ryan's legacy is cemented. Here's my feature story on Ryan's last ride on the court. @weareiowa5news #Cyclones weareiowa.com/article/sports…