Manford Byrd Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manford Byrd Jr.
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Byrd Jr., 1987.
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| 21st Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools | |
| In office March 25, 1985 – August 1, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Ruth B. Love |
| Succeeded by | Charles D. Almo (interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 29, 1928 Brewton, Alabama |
| Died | January 17, 2021 (aged 92) Chicago, Illinois |
| Spouse |
Cheribelle Byrd
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Central College M.A. Atlanta University Ph.D. Northwestern University |
| Profession |
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Manford Byrd Jr. (born May 29, 1928 – died January 17, 2021) was an American educator. He was also an education administrator and a school superintendent. Mr. Byrd served as the 21st superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools district. His time as superintendent was from March 25, 1985, to August 1, 1989. Manford Byrd Jr. is important because he was the first African-American man to lead the district. The first African-American person to hold this role was a woman, Ruth B. Love, who was his predecessor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Manford Byrd Jr. was born on May 29, 1928, in Brewton, Alabama. His parents were Manford Byrd Sr. and Evelyn (Turk) Byrd. He went to Southern Normal High School and graduated in 1946.
Byrd continued his education at Central College in Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1949. Later, in 1954, he received his Master of Arts degree in education from Atlanta University. He then earned a Ph.D. in education from Northwestern University in 1978.
Before working in Chicago, Byrd was an educator in Quincy, Illinois. He worked there from 1949 until 1954.
Career in Chicago Public Schools
Rising Through the Ranks
In 1954, Manford Byrd Jr. started working for Chicago Public Schools. He held many different jobs over the years. He was a teacher, an assistant principal, an elementary school principal, and a high school principal. He also worked as an assistant to the general principal.
In 1968, Byrd was chosen to be the deputy superintendent. He was only 39 years old at the time. This made him one of the highest-ranked African American leaders in public education in the United States. He later became the deputy superintendent for instruction. He also served as deputy superintendent for student services and system-wide changes.
Byrd was considered for the superintendent role several times but was not chosen. Many people thought this was because of his race. His family said he was told he needed a Ph.D. for the job. He earned his Ph.D. in 1978. In 1981, when Ruth B. Love was hired as superintendent, many African Americans, including Jesse Jackson, felt Byrd should have gotten the job. Even though Love was also African American, some felt she was not seen as truly representing the black community at that time.
Leading the District
On March 25, 1985, Manford Byrd Jr. was finally appointed superintendent. This happened after the school board decided not to renew Ruth Love's contract.
During his time as superintendent, in 1987, there was a teachers' strike. This strike lasted for nineteen days. As of 2019, it was the longest teachers' strike in Chicago's history.
Byrd was removed from his position as superintendent on August 1, 1989. Many black politicians, like Jesse Jackson, believed he was treated unfairly. They felt he was made a scapegoat for problems. He was fired because he seemed to resist a new plan from the state of Illinois. This plan aimed to give more control to local schools instead of keeping it all at the district level.
After His Superintendency
After leaving Chicago Public Schools, Manford Byrd Jr. worked as an educational consultant. He offered advice to schools and educational groups.
Awards and Community Involvement
Over the years, Byrd was a member of many important boards. These included the Chicago State University foundation and the American Red Cross. He also served on the boards for the Chicago NAACP and the Adler Planetarium.
Manford Byrd Jr. received over 100 awards. These awards recognized his excellent work in teaching and school administration. He also received honorary doctoral degrees from several colleges.
Personal Life
Manford Byrd Jr. was married to Cheribelle Byrd. They were married on March 31, 1956, and stayed together until his death. They had three sons: Carl, Bradley, and Donald. The Byrd family lived on Chicago's South Side.
Byrd was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ. This church has given out a scholarship named after him since 1982. Manford Byrd Jr. passed away on January 17, 2021, in Chicago. He was 92 years old.
