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When Dr. Zickeyous Byrd was at Concordia College in Selma, he couldn’t have guessed his final stop in his career in education would be across town with Selma City Schools.

Monday was his final day as superintendent of Selma City Schools, as he begins the next phase of his life in retirement from public education.

“I’m definitely thankful to be able to return (to Selma), but I’m definitely thankful for a lot of the accomplishments that we have been able to make over the years,” Byrd said. We have put some great programs and some great incentives in place. So it has definitely been a great two years.”

Top accomplishments

One of the first things he put in place was rebuilding the school transportation system. The only way students could get to school was either by walking or by being dropped off. Now students are being transported every day to make sure that students had a way to school. That included securing a $1.7-million-dollar federal grant to purchase five new electric buses.

Transportation is likely one of the reasons why chronic absenteeism is down in the district. When Byrd arrived, nearly one-third of the students missed school every day. Now, the rate is down 11% to 22%. 

The district graduation rate increased by 10%. Dual enrollment is up 196% with 367 students participating in the program that could earn students college credit.

Other improvements

Employees have been recognized and awarded for their professional performance and improvements in educational excellence in the form of stipends. SCS also reversed the trend of declining enrollment by welcoming over 200 new students into our district, resulting in more than $1 million in additional revenue.

Selma experienced sustained improvements in our ACAP (Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program) performance growth data for grades 2-8 students. The district’s college and career readiness data improved by 22%, signaling that the district is preparing students for success in and beyond high school, whether they choose college, the workplace or the military.

Three of the five elementary schools earned COGNIA STEM Certification.

The district improved safety for students and teachers most notably by hiring School Resource Officers to provide greater safety and security across all campuses.

The district also initiated the construction of a state-of-the-art visual and performing arts magnet school, the first of its kind in Selma City Schools, which will offer students incredible new opportunities to explore their talents starting with the 2025 academic year.

Knox Elementary School was also converted to a district resource center, creating a hub for educational resources and support for students, teachers and the community.

Building relationships

While those accomplishments mean a lot to him, Byrd is particularly proud of the relationships he’s been able to build with teachers and students.

“Relationships are very important to me. Customer service is very important to me,” Byrd said. “And so I hope it is my hope that people actually felt that I was always open and very transparent.”

He is also thankful to the school board for the opportunity to be superintendent in Selma and to do what it took to lead the district.

“I’m just thankful for them for even allowing me to be me,” Byrd said.

Byrd said he hasn’t decided what he will do next outside of taking time to fish and tackling some of the items on his wife’s “honey-do” list.

“I am looking forward to resting and resetting,” Byrd said. “I’m looking forward to the days ahead of really being able to rest, being able to enjoy some of those things that I kind of missed out on.”

Byrd said it always brings a sense of pride when a student or employee comes back and shows how they have grown. 

“My number one goal has been to make sure we actually provide an environment that is conducive for everyone, for everyone to be able to thrive,” Byrd said. “I want people to feel that they are valued and appreciated. It has just given me great pleasure and pride over all these years to hear from people that they actually felt that way. I am always ecstatic about hearing from students that have gone on, and they have done some great things with their lives. I am so incredibly thankful and humbled that the Lord has allowed me to be a vessel that has helped them in some way.”