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The Office of the Superintendent

 
The Office of the Superintendent - Quote from D. Mark Byrd: "I want to Wilkes County Schools to be a place where people want to work, where parents wnat their students to attend school, and a place that people associate with excellence. I look forward to working closely with each of you to make this happen."
 

Mark Byrd is a native of Wilkes County and begins his eighth year as Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools in 2023-2024. He is a graduate of both North Wilkes High School and Wilkes Community College, and in 1994 graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in History and Secondary Education. Mr. Byrd taught ELPS (Civics) and World History at North Wilkes High School from 1995-2002, where he also served as an assistant football coach and men’s track coach.


After receiving his Masters in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2002, Byrd served as Assistant Principal at West Alexander Middle School and Elkin High School. He then served as Principal of North Iredell High School from 2005-2007 and as Principal of Elkin High School from 2007 to 2012. In 2011, he was named Elkin City School's Principal of the Year.

 

In 2012, he returned to Wilkes County Schools as Director of Secondary Education and was named Assistant Superintendent in 2014. In May of 2015, he received his Educational Specialist (Ed.S) in Educational Administration from Appalachian State University.

 

Upon the retirement of Dr. Marty Hemric, Byrd was named Interim Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools effective January 1, 2016. On January 29, 2016, the Wilkes County Board of Education announced that Byrd would become Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools effective July 1, 2016. Byrd is the 8th superintendent to serve our school district since 1899.

 

Mr. Byrd serves on the Executive Board for the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association, the Wake Forest Baptist Health/Wilkes Medical Center Advisory Board, and serves as the VP of Education for the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Byrd previously served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and was selected as the 2023 Bob McRae Superintendent of the Year by the NCHSAA. He was selected by the NWRESA as the Region 7 Superintendent of the Year for 2021-2022 and was also recognized as the North Carolina Public School Maintenance Association Superintendent of the Year for 2021.

 

Away from work, Mr. Byrd enjoys golfing, trout fishing, and hunting.

 
EMAIL: [email protected]  |  PHONE: (336) 667-1121  |  ADDRESS: 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, NC  28659