The superintendent who put students first: Mourning the loss of Mark Byrd

Wilkes County Schools Superintendent Mark Byrd died unexpectedly on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.

Rupen Fofaria, the N.C. State Board of Education’s director of operations and policy, emailed the Board that evening:

Mr. Byrd was a lifelong member of the Wilkes County community and a devoted public servant. A graduate of North Wilkes High School, Wilkes Community College, and Appalachian State University, he dedicated his career to the students and families of Wilkes — first as a teacher and coach, then as a school and district leader. He began serving as a superintendent in 2016. 

Mr. Byrd was known as a steady, student-centered leader who cared deeply for his schools and community. His passing is a profound loss for Wilkes County and for public education in North Carolina.

Please keep Mr. Byrd’s family, the Wilkes County Board of Education, and the entire Wilkes County Schools community in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Superintendent Mo Green issued this statement:

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Wilkes County Schools Superintendent Mark Byrd. My heart goes out to his family, his colleagues, and the entire Wilkes County Schools community.

His commitment to students and educators earned him recognition as the NCHSAA Bob McRae Superintendent of the Year in 2023 and the Northwest Region Superintendent of the Year in 2022. Beyond the accolades, those who worked with Mark knew him as a dedicated leader who never forgot his roots or lost sight of why he entered education: to serve students.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction stands ready to support Wilkes County Schools during this difficult time. We join the Wilkes County community in mourning the loss of a devoted educator and friend.

Jack Hoke, executive director of the N.C. School Superintendents’ Association, said:

Mark Byrd was a champion for the Wilkes County Schools and loved serving as their Superintendent. Having been a graduate of the school system. he provided great support for the students, staff, and community and his leadership, vision, and passion for the Wilkes County Schools will be greatly missed.

Mark also made an impact statewide. He served on the NC High School Athletic Association Board of Directors, where his calming presence made a difference with his fellow Board members. Serving as Chairman of the Appalachian State University Public School Partnership, his advocacy reflected his love of ASU and the importance of that university partnership and K-12 education. Mark served for three years as a member of the Executive Board of the NC School Superintendents’ Association who always contributed to the conversation about educational issues.

The Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance meets at the Wilkes County Board of Education office monthly, and having served as Superintendent for ten years, his voice was important to the success of the NWRESA. I attended their meeting on Wednesday, February 18, and when it was time to share good news, he was the first to speak up and share his congratulations to a Wilkes County wrestling team finishing second in the state….

Mark was well-respected and admired by his fellow Superintendents. The response from Superintendents has been overwhelming in their sadness at the news of his passing.

I had the privilege of hiring Mark Byrd as an assistant principal in 2002 when I was Superintendent of the Alexander County Schools. I have known him for 24 years and watched him grow both as a person and as a leader. I often told him how proud I was of him. We attended Appalachian State University football games together, played a lot of golf with Superintendents, and he enjoyed networking with Superintendents from across the state.

Mark’s passing is a huge loss for his family, the Wilkes County Schools family, and the entire Superintendent family.

Byrd taught world history and civics at North Wilkes High School from 1995-2002, where he also served as an assistant football coach and men’s track coach. He next served as assistant principal at West Alexander Middle School and Elkin High School before serving as principal of North Iredell High School and Elkin High School.

In 2012, he returned to Wilkes County Schools as director of secondary education and was named assistant superintendent in 2014. Byrd was named interim superintendent of Wilkes County Schools on Jan. 1, 2016, and he has served as superintendent since July 1, 2016.

In the interview below, Byrd talks about his own experience of education and how it shaped his leadership. He calls on us to find “ways to remind all students that they have opportunities beyond high school.”

“No matter where you are from, no matter what your life experience is,” he said, “you can accomplish the same things that anyone else can with the right support.”

Byrd’s back-to-school letter for the 2025-26 noted the challenge of keeping students and staff safe following the unprecedented impact of Hurricane Helene.

“I am prouder today of what our system has accomplished than at any time before,” he wrote, and in this video you can hear him explain his pride in the district he led with a vision of excellence.

“I believe that Wilkes County Schools is a leader in our region and state in terms of relationships with parents and communities, as well as in maintaining student-centered culture,” Byrd wrote. “While many schools across our country make decisions based on what is best for adults, I believe our system focuses on students first. Throughout my 30 years in education, I have always been taught that if you put students first, you cannot go wrong and I look forward to our system continuing to do this throughout the 2025-2026 school year.”

Byrd died of a gunshot wound at his home, according to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is ongoing.

Counselors were available over the weekend to provide care, comfort, and support for anyone struggling with the news. The book, “Forward-Facing for Educators,” is a go-to resource for educators in North Carolina coping with stress, trauma, and grief.

President of the N.C. Community College System Jeff Cox, who worked closely with Byrd over the years, said, “I’ll be praying for his family and the whole larger community who will deeply mourn losing him. God speed, my friend.”

Over the weekend, the school district changed the banner on their Facebook page to share this hashtag: #wearewilkescountyschools.