Heather Byrd is a 1998 graduate of Heritage High School and a 2002 graduate of Maryville College. Heather was a member of the MC Scotties dance team during her time at Maryville and majored in Child Development with Teacher Licensure. In 2003, she earned a Masters in Instructional Leadership and her Educational Specialist degree in 2004 from Tennessee Tech University. Achieving a life-long dream, Heather obtained her Ed.D from Carson Newman also in Instructional Leadership.

Heather's education career has taken her into three different school systems. She moved to Cleveland, Tennessee and began her teaching career in Chatsworth, Georgia at Northwest Elementary where she taught for eight years. In 2006, she married Andy Byrd (Class of 1998 and member of the Scots Men's Soccer Team). When Park View Elementary opened in Cleveland in 2010, Heather joined the staff as a teacher and then moved into the role of instructional coach for 4 years. Her last year in Bradley County, she served as the ELA Coordinator for the Bradley County School system. Wanting to return to Maryville to be closer to her family and Andy’s parents, she joined the Blount County School system and is currently the principal at Prospect Elementary.

Heather and Andy have two daughters, Lakelee (13) and Paisley (6), who both attend Blount County Schools. The family currently resides in Alcoa and spends a great deal of time supporting the local soccer community and the Appalachian Ballet Company.