Michael Ryan

Michael Ryan is Executive Editor of The Lion. A Kansas City native, he’s been an award-winning reporter, editor and opinion writer at newspapers in Kansas, Missouri, Georgia and Texas.

Public Education
Kansas school district prohibits staff from wearing Charlie Kirk-style ‘FREEDOM’ shirts

A Kansas City-area elementary school has forbidden staff from wearing Charlie Kirk-style “FREEDOM” shirts. In an email exchange with a concerned citizen that has since been posted on the wildly popular… Read More

October 1, 2025
Christian Schools
Christian Teacher of the Year: Emily Zybach’s students learn pitfalls of communism, resilience of capitalism, endurance of Christianity

Florida public school students will be taught the atrocities of communism, and the risk of it in the U.S., starting with the 2026-27 school year. But Emily Zybach’s students are way ahead of that. The 11th-grade U.S. History teacher at Lincoln Christian… Read More

September 30, 2025
Christian Schools
Christian Teacher of the Year: Stephany Vesely guides students toward Christ, capitalism 

A survey this year found an alarming 62% of American youth have a favorable view of socialism – and 34% even say they like the idea… Read More

September 26, 2025
Public Education
Kansas City-area cheerleading coach under fire for ‘rest in piss’ epitaph for Charlie Kirk

A cheerleading coach at a Kansas City-area high school cheered for Charlie Kirk’s assassination with a social media  post reading “rest in piss gummy boy.” “We are aware. We also denounce this… Read More

September 26, 2025
Public Education
‘Lesbian Juice’ sticker handed out at KC-area high school freshman orientation

​A sticker with the sexually suggestive term “Lesbian Juice” was given out at freshman orientation Aug. 13 at a Kansas City-area high school, The Lion has learned. Gardner Edgerton Unified… Read More

September 24, 2025