Ms. Byrd graduated Cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. Subsequently, she achieved paralegal certification from Chicago State University.

Dance has been part of Ms. Byrd’s life since she taking her first ballet class at the age of four. She continues to be actively involved in community dance as a skilled ballet performer and instructor. She volunteers as Company Director and Instructor for Le Ballet Petit School of Dance in Chicago, Illinois where she formed the award winning, Living by Performing Dance Team, which performs throughout the Chicagoland Area.