Lydia J. Carlis, PhD

Principal Consultant

eyemaginED Team

Lydia J. Carlis, Ph.D., is Principal Consultant for eyemaginED. In this role, Lydia works with schools, districts, states, foundations and other ed-facing organizations to significantly impact outcomes for children most at risk when schools and systems fail them. 

Prior to starting eyemaginED, Lydia served as the Chief of Research and Innovation for AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation. In this role, Lydia led an outstanding team of developmental psychologists, content developers, professional development specialists, graphic designers, video producers, and technology and production specialists in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of an award-winning comprehensive online early childhood instructional model consisting of Common Core aligned curriculum, professional development, and assessments. 

One of her most fulfilling accomplishments while at AppleTree was conceptualizing and incubating a curriculum-based trade book publishing project that has blossomed into more than 120 culturally diverse and content rich titles to date. Lydia is proud to have penned or photographed 20 of these titles herself, highlighting traditionally underrepresented children succeeding in school, work, and life. Through successful grant writing, thousands of copies of these standards-based, culturally relevant books are in the classrooms, libraries, and homes of DC children and families. 

With professional certifications in special education, bilingual special education, and English as a second language instruction, Lydia taught general education, special education and English as a second language to Pre-K through seventh graders in Washington, DC and Hawaii. Lydia continues to serves as an undergraduate and graduate instructor in elementary education, special education and English as a second language at institutions such as The George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, The University of Maryland College Park (UMD-CP) and University of Phoenix as time permits. Lydia also holds train the trainer certification in the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Toddler, Pre-K and K3 tools, and is a certified CLASS observer for CLASS Toddler through CLASS Secondary (high school).

From Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Lydia moved to Washington, DC in 1994 to attend Howard University, where she graduated with her degree in physics. Lydia holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with bilingual special education concentration from The George Washington University; and a doctorate degree in special education, learning disabilities from The University of Maryland - College Park (UMD-CP), where she focused on early childhood response to intervention and the influence of teachers and peers on individual student achievement. While a student at UMD-CP, Lydia developed research assessments and curriculum for national Martha Speaks and Arthur outreach evaluation studies. Lydia is proud to serve on the board of directors for United Planning Organization, as the vice-chair for DC Special Education Cooperative's board of directors,  and to chair the Education committee for Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School's board of directors.

Lydia and her husband, Dr. DaNa Carlis, are the proud parents of a DC public charter school graduate, Dia Dannielle, who is now attending Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.