Over the past 30 years, Dr. Lyon has had a wide range of professional responsibilities including his contributions as a researcher, professor, classroom teacher, special education teacher, school psychologist, and leader in the development of evidence-based education policy at the federal and state levels. In January 2008, Dr. Lyon founded Synergistic Education Solutions (SES) to assist in the implementation of evidence-based assessment and instruction practices, professional development programs, the development of education policy at the state and national levels, and the development of assessment and evaluation programs for colleges and departments of education preparing for regulatory and accreditation activities. As the former National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) branch chief and advisor to the White House and Department of Education, he was responsible for the direction, development and management of research programs in developmental and cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, behavioral pediatrics, reading development and disabilities, learning disabilities, early childhood development, and school readiness. While at the NICHD from 1992 to 2005, Dr. Lyon worked closely with the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and Congress on the development of the Reading First program, and he co-authored that legislation with Robert Sweet.
In 2006, Dr. Lyon was named one of the ten most influential people in American education during the last decade by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center (Education Week) for his work in ensuring that scientific research occupies a central role in educational practices and policy. He was ranked fourth following Bill Gates, President George W. Bush, and Katie Haycock while ranking ahead of Senator Edward Kennedy, former President Bill Clinton, former Governor James Hunt, and former Secretary of Education Richard Riley, among others.
Dr. Lyon received his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1978 with a dual concentration in Special Education (learning disabilities and disorders) and psychology (developmental neuropsychology). He served on the faculties of the University of Alabama - Birmingham, Northwestern University and the University of Vermont School of Medicine. He also taught in the public schools as a third grade classroom teacher, a special education teacher and a school psychologist in several states. He authored, co-authored and edited more than 130 peer reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters addressing educational policy and learning differences and disabilities in children and adolescents.
Dr. Lyon has appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and National Public Radio to discuss issues relevant to education, child development, and educational research and policies.
His website is www.reidlyon.com |
