Dr. Tony Byrd is entering his 30th year in public education. He launched his career as a bilingual sixth-grade teacher in Pasadena, California, with Teach for America. He earned two master's degrees from Stanford and his doctoral degree from the University of Washington. He was a principal for nine years in California and Washington, an assistant superintendent of the Edmonds School District (20,000 students) and an associate superintendent of Everett Public Schools (20,000 students). Prior to coming to Colorado, Dr. Byrd was the executive director of Teach for America in Washington and was teaching aspiring principals at the University of Washington. He is the proud father of Kylie and Taylor and has been married to Cherry Byrd for 24 years.