Katrina L. Byrd grew up in Brownsville, the poorest neighborhood in Brooklyn and the seventh-poorest neighborhood in New York City.
As a child, she lived in public housing where she was surrounded by poverty, teen pregnancy, and a crack epidemic.
Despite these barriers, she graduated from high school and continued her education to become a licensed funeral director, teacher, and a community school director, working in the same neighborhood she was raised.
After more than twenty years of experience in community health and human services, Katrina moved to Erie in 2017 to become the community school director at Strong Vincent Middle School.
Katrina holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, a Healthcare Business Analytics Certificate from Gannon University, a Bachelor’s of Science from St. Joseph’s College, and an Associate’s in Occupational Services from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services.
She serves as a board member at the ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum and as a Commissioner for the Erie County Human Relations Commission.
