Willie Byrd, GED'21
Education Entrepreneurship, M.S.Ed.
Current Position: Managing Director, Equity & Belonging; Teach For America
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
I am most proud of the fact that several of my former direct reports have been promoted from managing school operations to managing operations for their entire charter networks, overseeing procedures and protocols for multiple school buildings and impacting thousands of students and families. I deeply value personal and professional development, and I prioritize sharing my knowledge/experiences to accelerate the career trajectory of those I hire.
How has GSE influenced your professional path?
The Education Entrepreneurship program gave me the tools and confidence needed to kickstart innovative ventures. Sometimes our own lack of knowledge or skills can make our dreams feel unattainable, but our program surrounds you with people who can help make the impossible feel practical.
What is the best part of your GSE education?
The best part of my GSE education is undoubtedly the people who comprise the Education Entrepreneurship program. The faculty are true experts in their respective subject matter and are always willing to challenge you, and my cohort members have become friends for life.
Is there anything you want to tell us about that we didn't ask?
I thoroughly enjoy connecting with people and learning more about how they see themselves impacting the world. Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn; I'd love to hear from you!
Related News
Rameen Iftikhar, who completed a master’s degree in international education development in January, will pursue a Ph.D. in education at University of Cambridge.
Penn GSE alumni from across the academic spectrum have advised politicians, worked in the White House and the statehouse, and spurred change in our nation’s schools and universities thanks to their evidence-backed expertise in education policy.
These seven graduates have made outstanding contributions to the field of education and Penn GSE, and represent the breadth and depth of the School’s impact.
The recent graduate of Penn GSE’s Urban Teaching Residency shares her classroom at Muñoz-Marin Elementary in North Philadelphia.
The adjunct assistant professor has been an Olympic-level athlete, a national championship coach, and a university athletics administrator. Now, she teaches higher education leaders what they need to know to successfully navigate their institutions through the serious challenges facing college athletics today.
Jeanne Smith puts into practice what she learned in her Penn GSE master's program teaching reading to incarcerated people for the Vermont Department of Corrections.
The subscription-based service is available to families and school counselors and is currently used in several Philadelphia-area schools, a national network of 25 charter schools, and even a school in Qatar.
A look at Penn GSE’s first-of-its-kind master’s program in education entrepreneurship in honor of its recent milestone birthday.
The Practical English for Daily Living (PEDAL) program at Penn GSE provides an opportunity for TESOL students to practice their teaching with language learners across the University and around the world.