By lunch time on Tuesday May 3, rumors were flying and jaws were dropping as students, teachers, and parents discovered that beloved principal, Mr. Ty Byrd would be resigning after eight years of dedication to GM. While Byrd made the announcement to students and faculty, his appointment at Arlington County was not made official until May 19.
The reaction from students and staff was emotional.
“Thinking about Mr. Byrd leaving makes we want to cry,” said junior Tina Dao in a tweet. In support and agreement, the tweet was retweeted multiple times and favorited 23 times.
“I’m feeling upset, because the amount of people who liked and respected him was quite large, and he is a big part of the GM family,” said sophomore, Adwoa Ankuma. “It’s sad to see such a great leader like him go.”
Beginning on July 1, 2016, Byrd will assume the role of Director of Secondary Education in neighboring Arlington County. In a personal statement to students Byrd stated that this new job is “an opportunity for me to continue to grow as a professional as I seek to continually learn how to serve as an effective school leader.”
After school Tuesday, Byrd held a brief faculty meeting with all of GM staff to announce his resignation. Soon after the meeting, he sent a letter to GM parents and students. The reactions from parents, students and staff were awash with emotion.
“It’s wonderful to hear he has new things to grow into, but we’ll miss him,” said Spanish teacher Ms. Kristen Albert. “He’s done such a beautiful job with fostering the community, it goes beyond profession.”
“I can stand behind the fact that Principal Byrd is the number one reason that I stay [at GM], so now that he is leaving I would consider leaving,” said Instructional Technology Coordinator Steven Knight.
Eight years ago, Byrd came to GM during spring break from Arlington County. Byrd had a week to learn the ropes of GM from Ms. Debbie Flanigan and Ms. Amy Kurjanowicz before the entire student body and teachers returned.
“I instantly fell in love with this school and the people within,” Byrd said in his personal statement to students. “My love for George Mason has only grown over the years.”
As much as Byrd fell in love with the student body, GM students felt great love for their principal.
He is beloved for strong commitment to not only his job but also his students’ lives. Byrd is known for showing up at (almost) every single sporting/extracurricular event where Mustangs are involved. Whether that is traveling to Radford, Virginia to watch the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams win a state championship, or just last week traveling to St. Louis, Missouri to watch the GM Robotics Team in the world championships.
Byrd makes sure to greet students every morning as they enter the building, shaking their hands and giving out high fives as a positive gesture to start the day. He makes a presence by sitting in on classes with students, and chatting with students in the halls throughout the day to cheer up one student after another.
“[Mr. Byrd] could always put a smile on my face at the end of the day. He will truly be missed,” said Ankuma.
Byrd’s resignation continues a surprising rate of turnover at positions of leadership in FCCPS. He is the third principal (out of four) in the district who have stepped down from their positions this year, joining Mt. Daniel Elementary principal Kathy Halayko and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Principal Robert Palermo. However, Byrd made it clear in his letter and when speaking to faculty that his resignation is not related to any tension with Superintendent Toni Jones or the recent $912,000 cut by the Falls Church City Council from the School Board’s funding request for the upcoming year.
Byrd’s accomplishments at GM go so far beyond awards and accolades, but more towards his positive impact and dedication to helping foster the close-knit Falls Church community that makes the Little City unique. Byrd has always told alumni and faculty/staff who have left the GM community that they will “Always be a Mustang.” Now it is our turn to return the words to Byrd who will sorely missed, but who will always be a mustang.
