Educator Training Meets
Cinematic Storytelling

What We Do

We provide a unique and engaging experience through cinematic-quality short films designed to help educators develop and refine their character, discernment, and decision-making skills. Our goal is to empower educators like you to create and foster flourishing communities where students thrive.

Who We Are

Welcome to Novastone, your premier online educational resource platform! We are dedicated to supporting educational institutions by offering top-quality materials for in-class higher education resources. Our unique approach combines the power of cinematic storytelling with educational content, providing students in undergraduate and graduate programs with a truly immersive and enriching learning experience. Through visual storytelling, we foster connections between students and characters, allowing them to delve into themes of empathy, good character, and the complexities of decision-making. Get ready to embark on a journey of educational discovery with Novastone!

Stay connected through signing up for our newsletter.  We will be adding additional resources and opportunities for collaboration on a variety of topics where cinematic storytelling can be used to impact our future leaders in many industries.

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Meet the Novastone Learning Team

Dr. Robin Cayce is an Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University. She leads coursework in both the Educational Leadership Program and the Learning Organizations and Strategic Change Doctoral Program. Before coming to Lipscomb University, Dr. Cayce served as the Director of Programs for Chattanooga 2.0, a collective impact initiative focused on educational support in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County area. Dr. Cayce completed her undergraduate studies in elementary education at Middle Tennessee State University. She is committed to her work with aspiring educational leaders and her personal vision of ensuring that each leader is as prepared as possible to lead a successful school in Tennessee!

Robin Cayce

Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University

Meet the Novastone Learning Team

Dr. Forman joined the College of Education team at Lipscomb University in 2017 as an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Educational Leadership Program. Under Dr. Forman’s tenure as Director, program enrollment significantly increased and expanded to serve educational communities in all three Grand Divisions in Tennessee. He currently serves as an Associate Professor and the Assistant Dean for the College of Education.

Lance Forman

Associate Professor / Assistant Dean for the College of Education

Meet the Novastone Learning Team

After more than 28 years of experience in video production, Melissa’s passion for storytelling led her to partner with Lance Forman in the College of Education and create Novastone Learning.  She has served as Senior Video Producer on the “Matter of Principal” series. These films were designed to foster critical conversations among K-12 education leaders, promoting empathy, character development, and awareness of societal issues.

Melissa Forte

Assistant Dean, College of Entertainment & the Arts

Meet the Novastone Learning Team

Dr. Robin Cayce is an Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University. She leads coursework in both the Educational Leadership Program and the Learning Organizations and Strategic Change Doctoral Program. Before coming to Lipscomb University, Dr. Cayce served as the Director of Programs for Chattanooga 2.0, a collective impact initiative focused on educational support in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County area. Dr. Cayce completed her undergraduate studies in elementary education at Middle Tennessee State University. She is committed to her work with aspiring educational leaders and her personal vision of ensuring that each leader is as prepared as possible to lead a successful school in Tennessee!

Robin Cayce

Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University

Meet the Novastone Learning Team

Dr. Forman joined the College of Education team at Lipscomb University in 2017 as an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Educational Leadership Program. Under Dr. Forman’s tenure as Director, program enrollment significantly increased and expanded to serve educational communities in all three Grand Divisions in Tennessee. He currently serves as an Associate Professor and the Assistant Dean for the College of Education.

Lance Forman

Associate Professor / Assistant Dean for the College of Education

Meet the Novastone Learning Team

After more than 28 years of experience in video production, Melissa’s passion for storytelling led her to partner with Lance Forman in the College of Education and create Novastone Learning.  She has served as Senior Video Producer on the “Matter of Principal” series. These films were designed to foster critical conversations among K-12 education leaders, promoting empathy, character development, and awareness of societal issues.

Melissa Forte

Assistant Dean, College of Entertainment & the Arts

Meet the Novastone Learning Team

Dr. Robin Cayce is an Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University. She leads coursework in both the Educational Leadership Program and the Learning Organizations and Strategic Change Doctoral Program. Before coming to Lipscomb University, Dr. Cayce served as the Director of Programs for Chattanooga 2.0, a collective impact initiative focused on educational support in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County area. Dr. Cayce completed her undergraduate studies in elementary education at Middle Tennessee State University. She is committed to her work with aspiring educational leaders and her personal vision of ensuring that each leader is as prepared as possible to lead a successful school in Tennessee!

Robin Cayce

Assistant Professor at Lipscomb University

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How it Works

Our platform is user-friendly, ensuring easy access to these valuable resources. Each film illustrates an authentic educational dilemma and includes associated documents to build further context. The BISON Ethical Decision Making Framework allows facilitators to guide deeper conversation and reflection about the complex needs and dilemmas facing teachers and educational leaders today.

Why it Works

Difficult decisions are often made in the gray areas of the day where there may not be a clear path forward. Teachers and leaders often encounter complex and abstract concepts in their training. Visual storytelling simplifies these ideas by presenting them in a relatable, authentic, and visually stimulating manner, allowing learners to step into the shoes of different characters and experience situations from various perspectives. This fosters empathy and encourages development in discernment through an iterative process of reflection and growth.