Having graduated from Greater Atlanta Christian School herself, fifth grade teacher Dr. Linda Byrd knows firsthand the value of being part of the Spartan community. As a young adult, Byrd began teaching young children in Sunday School about God’s unconditional love. When she noticed her kids struggling in school with math and reading, she took it upon herself to give them extra attention and help them with her encouraging and patient demeanor.

Dr. Byrd remembers, “I enjoyed helping these kids improve and learn so much that I thought, ‘Why don’t I transition this into a full-time career?’” After earning a degree in education, she began teaching in public schools and went on to lead classrooms for eight years – Kindergarten, second grade, and fifth grade. Dr. Byrd has always been drawn to young children because “you get them on the ground level where they are sponges for learning and the Lord.”

Public school wasn’t where Dr. Byrd saw herself long-term. “Because of the rules and regulations in a public school environment, your relationships with the children were very limited. I couldn’t share my faith with them, I was not allowed to them that I cared through a simple hug, and the parents were not involved.”

“Greater Atlanta Christian was a fresh breath of air when I returned many years ago. It was like coming home,” shares Dr. Byrd. Gone were the days of not being able to share her faith with her students kids or having uninvolved parents. Instead, Dr. Byrd enjoys openly sharing her spiritual walk with her students and enjoys having regular parent volunteers help in the classroom with special events and projects.

When students are asked about what it was like having Dr. Byrd in class, they always smile as they remember her utilizing music and singing in almost every aspect of her teaching. “Music engages even the quietest students. It calms them and helps them to have an open mind for learning,” shares Dr. Byrd.

For the past few years, Dr. Byrd has been the lead sponsor for the Elementary Web Design Team and, most recently, an app-development version of “Shark Tank.” Dr. Byrd believes that, “Technology is their native language. By using technology in the classroom, I get to meet my students where they are. It sparks their interest and they are excited to learn.”

Former Elementary principal, Dr. Brad Schultz, shared that Byrd is always seeking out new ways to teach and interesting tools to help accomplish her goals. “She is always looking for what is new and she shares her knowledge with her peers, even across grade levels. She never keeps new knowledge to herself and always makes her team better.”

Dr. Byrd wishes that every family with school-aged children could come experience what makes GAC different. “We are a family and will be with you every step of the way – from the very beginning until the end. We do everything we can to partner with you.”