Ethlyn Sims Byrd individualized her instruction, for younger children in various grades and situations, from emotionally-distraught to academically-gifted.

“I liked the ones who were a challenge,” she said.

She taught 35 years — 22 in Henderson County. She retired in 2002. She also taught in New Orleans and Honolulu, Hawaii. She’s taught children as young as first-grade. Here, she first taught math and science in Balfour seventh and eighth grades starting in 1967. That’s when she married Frank Byrd, now retired as Blue Ridge Community College’s Student Services dean. Next, she taught seventh-grade language arts and social studies in early years (1972-76) of Flat Rock Junior High.

She switched to elementary schools — starting with Hillandale (in 1976) and then Atkinson (1986), when both first opened. She taught the academically and intellectually gifted (AIG) at Hendersonville and Drysdale elementary schools and Hendersonville Middle, then HMS sixth-grade math and language arts. Early on, she taught emotionally-distraught children in a state treatment center.

She was county nominee in 1990 for the Governor’s Award in Excellence in Teaching, for math. Three times, she was teacher of the year in her school.

Ethlyn Byrd believes “meeting each child where he is (in ability), and never robbing a child of his dignity.” She let the child express regret. She addressed why a child misbehaved or cussed — such as from frustration — and promoted healthier responses.

Developmentally-challenged students “weren’t necessarily the easiest children to teach, but they appealed to me.” She liked when a child would “blurt out an idea,” and join group discussion and overcome shyness. Challenging such students to their levels, and bringing them beyond that gradually was gratifying. “The ability to achieve is so important for students,” she said. “It can be from a very simple job, being able to do it and remembering how to the next time.”

At the other end of the spectrum, there is a gifted child getting continual challenges and also those showing the potential but not yet classified as gifted. “They might miss a basic skill, and need to buckle down in that area before becoming a high achiever,” she said. “I’d challenge that student, present a project that requires extra thought.”
Outside of the classroom, she tutored students and was a lifetime aunt figure to many of them. She’s described as nurturing. She’s mentored teachers officially, and still is consulted by some. She served on Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation visitation teams, and in numerous professional societies.

While teaching, she tutored students on the side and was a facilitator. She overcame student’s economic hurdles to learning or appreciating the arts, by arranging camp scholarships and giving rides such as for music lessons. She drove a boy to a spelling bee, then her husband drove the lad to a basketball tourney.

She attended former students’ concerts, plays and sporting events as they matured. When one went wayward, she visited him in jail.

Her sister Dorothy Fantle describes her as “Steel Magnolia,” in being “strong, determined and confident — with an air of diplomacy and Southern charm that put all those around her at ease. She was an inspiration to all ...always professional, exhibiting tact, diplomacy and a wonderful sense of humor.” Fantle taught at Atkinson after her sister did.

Barbara Mathis Stepp, who was once her student teacher at Hillandale, also points out Mrs. Byrd’s humor and how she was “never negative.” She admired how Mrs. Byrd handled a split first-second-grade class and different learning levels within a grade. “She ran the class as simple as one grade level, to meet the varying needs of all of the children.”

Mrs. Byrd was raised in Baton Rouge, La., home of Louisiana State University where she earned her B.S. in elementary education. She added an M.A. in school administration from Furman, and certificate in gifted and talented education from Mars Hill College. The Byrds have two children and two grandchildren. Son John teaches college ceramics. They’ve donated time and funds to education, the arts and other local causes.
In reflecting on her service as an educator, “my biggest satisfaction is from watching the children grow up, and become productive citizens.”