Deb Lyons is a principal and an instructional leader. She currently works with teachers in grades second, third, and fourth grade. Deb has been in the field of teaching and learning for over 20 years and has had direct experience working with infants through 11 years old. Her mission in leading teachers is to ensure that they have evidence-based instructional tools and strategies in order to effectively teach children to read.

Deb is also a community member. This is important to point out, as she believes we are all community members and each one of us has a stake in creating a high quality public education system. She states, "We all need to be promoting best practices in schools to ensure that each student graduates from a public education system with the skills necessary to make a significant contribution to the community.

Reading is a critical life skill and is an essential skill to support a high-quality life. It is in our best interest, as a community and a nation that our children are taught with evidence-based practices so that they have the access to high-quality instruction supporting them to become proficient readers.

There is an economic cost to society as well as a cost to one's own personal dignity when a person cannot read. Therefore, it is my hope that the information in this presentation will empower you to be highly proficient in teaching all students to read. Credible tools and evidence-based practices are available and use of these materials has resulted in teaching children to read.

With the evidence-based tools, such as curriculum, instructional practices and valid assessments, we can make a difference for all learners. In fact, if you are presently teaching, perhaps this information will also validate your current practices. However, this information may even challenge some of your current pedagogy and beliefs. Being open and receptive to new information will help systems improve their practices in teaching all children to read; and together, we can make a difference for all students."