Mrs. Lyden is a graduate of South Sumter High School where she graduated with honors.  She attended College of Central Florida where she obtained her Associates of Arts degree as well as her Associates of Science in Nursing.  She was the youngest student in her class and after graduation, she started working at Leesburg Regional Medical Center in the Medical Unit.  She worked 6 years for the Medical Unit before transferring to the Labor and Delivery unit.  Mrs. Lyden worked in L & D for 2 years before coming to South Sumter High School. She has been teaching at South Sumter High School since 2012.  Mrs. Lyden has a passion for the medical profession and for sharing her knowledge with the students in the Medical Career Academy classes.  The MeCA program currently offers 6 Industry certifications which include: Certified EKG Technician (CET), Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT), Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA),   Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and the newest certification, Certified Phelbotomy Technician (CPT).  The program currently has a 95% pass rate for the certifications.

Mrs. Lyden is also the Advisor for the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) student organization here at SSHS.  HOSA is a club in which students interested in the medical field can explore  different career options as well as compete at state and national levels in different areas of medicine.  Students also develop social and leadership skills through their interaction with other students around the state and nation.  Since beginning the club at SSHS in 2016, students in the club have competed at State level each year.  We have also had a student elected to serve as the Regional officer for our area.  Mrs. Lyden has been selected as the HOSA State Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award three times.  The organization has almost tripled in size since 2016 and continues to grow.

When Mrs. Lyden is not teaching at SSHS, she enjoys going to the beach, hunting and fishing with her wonderful husband and 2 beautiful girls.  She is a lifelong resident of Sumter County and is very proud to call it HOME.