Byrd retires as Bakersfield principal, starts new job as MH Christian Academy administrator

After working in the Ozark County school system for 26 years, Bakersfield High School Principal Doyne Byrd retired this past spring and has taken on a new role as administrator at Mountain Home Christian Academy a private school in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Byrd was hired following the retirement of former MHCA Administrator Mike Cully. He officially started July 1.

For the past seven years, Byrd has served as the high school principal for the Bakersfield Public School District. He recently retired from public education after 30 years service, 18 years total at Bakersfield and 8 years at Gainesville.

As the high school girls basketball coach at Gainesville, Byrd led his Lady Bulldogs to the state tournament’s final four in 2005, where his team captured third place.

“I’m very excited to be a small part of the MHCA family as we partner with parents to develop students with Christ-like values while providing a top-quality education,” Byrd said.

Byrd said he will miss the people of Ozark County, particularly his Bakersfield friends and co-workers. “Bakersfield is just a special place,” Byrd said. “I was blessed to be a small part of the Bakersfield community for so many years. Those people love their school and have always stood behind and supported their school.”

“Ozark County as a whole is just a wonderful place,” he said. “You know I think of Ozark County more like people of generations past where they had strong family values and work ethic. It will always be a special place and I’ll cherish all the friends I’ve made.”

One of those friends was Bakersfield Superintendent Dr. Amy Padgett.

“I first met Doyne Byrd 23 years ago when I was a teacher and he was a coach at Gainesville,” Padgett said. “I was a first-year teacher, and he was a hardcore coach back in those days. I never dreamed I would someday be a superintendent and he would be a principal; not to mention in the same district! If someone would have told me then that I would be his boss someday, I never would’ve believed that,” Padgett said.

Padgett said that, over the years, she has come to have a deep abiding respect for Byrd. “I have seen him help kids who were troubled, hard to get along with and generally kids who did not have an adult in their lives to teach them how to be adults or skills to make it through life,” Padgett said.

Padgett said that every year on the seniors’ last day of school, Byrd would organize “adulting day” where he made sure they knew how to change a tire, check their oil and complete other life tasks. She noted that it was a normal occurrence everyday after school to find Byrd helping kids in the parking lot by airing up a tire or changing a flat, jumping a dead battery or troubleshooting car problems for kids if their vehicle wouldn’t start or run.

“A few months ago I was at a restaurant, and I saw a former student who was also one of Mr. Byrd’s former students,” Padgett said. “She told me she and her husband and daughters had a flat tire and no spare somewhere between Cotter and Flippin, Arkansas. Her dad was out-of-pocket so they called Coach Byrd.  He drove from his house in Mountain Home and brought a spare and got them back on the road again. She told me that besides her parents and husband, Coach Byrd was someone in her life she knew she could count on. On this occasion, he did not disappoint or let her and her family down,” Padgett said.

Padgett said that she was a little concerned when he was first hired as high school principal. “Mr. Byrd had a reputation for getting things done, albeit his way,” Padgett said. “Everyone knew he was a tough coach so I was a bit worried he might be a little too tough for the position. I was wrong.”

Padgett said that, as a former Marine, Byrd understood chain-of-command. “I won’t say we never disagreed. In fact, we disagreed quite often, but we were always respectful,” Padgett said. “At the end of the day, he knew I would consider his thoughts, but I would make the decision I felt I needed to make. He respected that.”

“Many years ago, Mr. Byrd was very persistent and persuaded me to give a kid a job at school mowing and weed eating,” the superintendent remembers. “I did not want to do this because this young man did not have a record of being present, not to mention punctual, or even the mental faculty to do the work. This student was not an easy student to deal with, nor was he pleasant to be around. The student was basically homeless, had learning difficulties and not a lot of family support. Mr. Byrd promised to come to school everyday the kid worked (even though Mr. Byrd was not contracted or required to be here) and supervise the student so he did not get hurt or hurt someone while using the equipment. Mr. Byrd taught this young man how to not only work but cash a paycheck and save money for expenses. Mr. Byrd also taught him about doing laundry and caring for your own personal health and cleanliness. He had a tremendous impact on this young man.”

Padgett said Byrd has built desks for classrooms when teachers had requests the district could not afford or find readily available. “He has built shelves, hung interactive boards, replaced toilets, served lunch, picked up trash, mowed grass, driven bus trips and routes,” Padgett said. “There is absolutely no task he was unwilling to do. I heard him tell kids, ‘all honest work is honorable.’ He set this example. His work ethic is unparalleled and he lives by the motto that ‘everything is in my job description,’” Padgett said.

The superintendent said Byrd has been loyal to Bakersfield School and wanted to do a good job for the kids of the community. 

“I tell applicants all the time, “If you can come to work everyday prepared to do better than the day before, you can be successful here.” Mr. Byrd did exactly that,” Padgett said. “We all grow in our profession and learn as time goes on. The evolution of Mr. Byrd’s career has been something incredible to watch. He was a hard-line tough coach and grew to be a servant with high standards and expectations of himself as well as students and staff. He was still tough. He was tough on us all, me included. Even though I was his supervisor, I definitely learned from his leadership style. Before my eyes, his leadership style matured and evolved into the things legacies are made of. This district will be forever grateful for his tenure in our school.  He has made a difference.”

A native of Mountain Home, Byrd graduated from Mountain Home Public Schools, received a bachelor’s degree from Harding University while serving in the United States Marine Corp Reserve and earned his master’s degree from William Woods University. In addition to administration, Byrd has held positions in teaching, coaching and athletic directorships during his career in education. He has worked in Gainesville and Bakersfield school districts, along with Cotter, Arkansas.

Byrd and his wife of 33 years, Margaret, have two adult sons. Currently a member of Real Life Church, Byrd served as an interim pastor for First Christian Church/Resurrection Church for several years. He and Margaret spend their free time outdoors, biking, hiking and kayaking.

“Doyne is a strong Christian leader, who has years of experience in education as a coach, teacher and administrator,” said Roz Blagg, former board of directors vice president and current Advisory Board committee member. “What a blessing that his desire is to continue his service to God and his service to youth by moving into Christian school administration at MHCA. He is a strong advocate for children and for teachers and his long-time love for Christ will ensure that MHCA continues to nurture the spiritual and academic growth of future Christian leaders.”