Santa Monica, Calif. – Santa Monica-Malibu Superintendent Sandra Lyon has been selected to join the Suburban School Superintendents, a prestigious national organization dedicated to improving the quality of schools. This organization is limited to a maximum of 150 active superintendents from the pre-eminent suburban school districts throughout the country.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the Suburban School Superintendents,” Lyon said. “Membership in this organization is an incredible opportunity to continue to grow as an administrator and work collaboratively with my colleagues from across the country to seek solutions to the challenges we continue to face in public education, while ensuring all of our students have access to the same opportunities.”

Founded 49 years ago, Suburban School Superintendents strives to improve the quality of educational opportunities, programs and services for children, staff and parents in member districts. By pooling ideas and information from its membership, both through its regular meetings and through informal contacts throughout the school year, the organization works collaboratively to solve issues facing schools nationwide.

“Lyon’s nomination and election to join SS bespeaks the high regard in which she is held as a school district leader, regionally and in the country at large,” SSS executive secretary Charles Fowler said.

The Santa Monica-Malibu School District has consistently received national and state accolades throughout Lyon’s tenure, including recognition from U.S. News and World Report, which ranks Malibu and Santa Monica high schools in the top 150 schools in California. The District received rankings of 68 and 147, respectively, in 2015.

Earlier this year, 17 teachers from SMMUSD were certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, bringing the share of the SMMUSD teaching staff currently certified by the National Board to 13 percent. The figure greatly exceeds the state’s average of 2 percent and far surpasses the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 6 percent.