Candidate Statement:
Vanessa Woodard Byers is a veteran Miami-Dade County Public Schools administrator with broad-based knowledge of and experience with district and school operations. Byers moved up the ranks in the district’s auditing and budgeting departments and became a resource for staff of all organizational levels including administrative department heads and school principals. Her knowledge of the district’s core mission of teaching and learning was expanded as a member of the leadership team for the deputy superintendent for curriculum & instruction. Currently, her responsibility for FTE, one of the district’s major sources of funding, has allowed her more in-depth knowledge of another critical school district function.
A graduate of Florida A&M University and immediate past-president of the local alumni chapter, Byers has been recognized for leadership, community service and commitment to support of the institution. She was instrumental in spearheading the alumni initiative of garnering legislative support for the return of the FAMU Law School.
Byers was elected to the WISH Foundation board of directors and serves as its financial secretary. She is also a member of several other organizations including The Links, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority; NAACP and the Dade Association of School Administrators.