Elizabeth Myers Hyde, Ph.D.

Dr. Bette Hyde has served as the governor-appointed Director of the Department of Early Learning (DEL) for the state of Washington since 2009. Bette’s focus is on creating one statewide early learning system that prepares all children for school and life. She strongly believes that school readiness means ready schools, ready children, ready families, and ready communities.

Dr. Hyde’s career includes working as a school psychologist, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in Ohio and Washington. Dr. Hyde served as Assistant Professor of Psychology at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. She also serves on the boards of Thrive by Five Washington and the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) at the University of Washington. Dr. Hyde earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota and completed a post-doctorate administrative certification from the University of Washington.