Dr. Shawn Bird has dedicated his entire career to serving children in some of the largest urban school districts in the country. In August 2026, Shawn became the Chief Academic Officer in the Division of Teaching and Learning for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Prior to this role, he served as the Deputy Superintendent of Academics, School Leadership, and Partnership Services for the San Antonio Independent School District, the Chief Academic Officer for HISD, Chief of Schools in the School District of Philadelphia, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and School Communities in Portland Public Schools, and the Chief Academic Officer in Pasadena Unified School District.
Bird grew up in Houston and has served in public education for over 25 years. He has earned three degrees from the University of Houston: A Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish, a Master of Education in Secondary Education, and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Additionally, he has earned a Master of Science in Human Resources Development from Villanova University.