Tracy Byrd came to a career in education later in life. He worked for investment banks Piper Jaffray and Ameriprise before accepting his first education job as a student supervisor in 2008. There, he learned how to approach and build relationships with students. Byrd then moved into the role of an achievement specialist. It was this job, he says, that prepared him for teaching.

In this role, Byrd had to be many things to many different students every day. Each student had different thoughts about life after high school. Some were thinking about joining the workforce, while others were focused on college. Others were challenged with the notion of getting across the graduation stage. Regardless of their situations, Byrd was prepared to work with these students to help them achieve and thrive.

After graduating from Metropolitan State University in 2017, Byrd transitioned to the Minneapolis Public School District as a ninth grade English teacher at Washburn High School in Minneapolis. This was a special homecoming, as Byrd is a 1989 graduate of Washburn.

Byrd continued to follow his passions while at Washburn. He coached football as a defensive coordinator and track and field, where he has served as head coach since 2022. Byrd’s passion is helping students realize their potential in or out of the classroom. He also enjoys working alongside professionals who, like him, show up each day to do hard work for kids.