Byrne, Desiree

Running For:

School Board

District:

Peoria Unified School District

Age:

42

Occupation:

Mortgage Broker and Owner of Street Market

Education:

Degree in Web Design and Interactive Media

Family:

Happily married for 21 years. Two wonderful children.

Religion:

Christian

Biographical Info:

Desiree’ Byrne’s Midwest roots run deep. Being born in a small farming community in Missouri, and spending much of her formative years in a nearby city in Illinois, provided her with a deep appreciation for hard work and love of country. As a direct descendant of the infamous Hatfields, known for their feud with the McCoys, the legacy of her ancestors are mirrored in Desiree’s resilience, determination, and fierce loyalty. Living in small town America had and continues to have its advantages. The tight-knit community instilled in Desiree’ a sense of belonging and camaraderie. She grew up knowing her neighbors, their triumphs, and their struggles, fostering a deep love and a commitment to serving others. She recognizes people as the most valuable asset in any community.

Desiree’ Byrne’s natural leadership qualities have been evident since her school days. This innate ability has propelled her to excel in various fields throughout her career. Beginning as a professional negotiator for the healthcare industry, Desiree’ successfully represented large health insurance providers and their patients, consistently achieving remarkable results in advocating for lowered medical bills and securing cost-saving contracts. Her decade-long experience in this role helped her develop exceptional skills in negotiation and advocacy. Desiree’ then ventured into the event production industry, establishing her own business in 2013. Her company successfully organized a multitude of events, some with budgets in the multimillion-dollar range, and attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees annually. One of Desiree’s event brands became so popular that she was commissioned as the lead designer for artwork carried by numerous major department stores nationally. As COVID-19 severely impacted the events industry, Desiree’ was forced to pivot her focus. Utilizing her financial acumen and meticulous attention to detail, she became licensed as a mortgage loan advisor in over a dozen states. Despite this shift, Desiree’ persevered and continued to run her event production company, securing or maintaining contracts with Valley municipalities. Her impressive track record has earned her numerous awards, including recognition as a top entrepreneur by the Arizona Republic. Apart from her professional accomplishments, Desiree’ has always been deeply committed to philanthropy. Her efforts date back to her childhood, with a long history of volunteering for church organizations and participating in service missions to foreign countries. She served as the President of Liberty High School’s booster club, in addition to having had the privilege of working with a variety of other notable nonprofit organizations such as Make a Wish, St Vincent de Paul, Los Ninos Hospital, Treasure House, Teen Challenge, PBS, Arizona Helping Hands, and Maggie’s Place. Desiree’ embodies the qualities of a passionate and driven individual who uses her skills and position to make a positive impact in both her professional and philanthropic endeavors.

Desiree’ and Jim’s love story is one for the books. From the moment they met while working alongside one another at an Applebee’s in Peoria, their respect for and admiration of one another took deep roots. Their love for one another and their commitment to Christ create a solid foundation for their family. Despite the demands of Jim’s profession as a high school principal, and Desiree’s career in mortgage lending, they are always present in their children’s lives, creating a loving and supportive environment for their family to thrive. Desiree’ and Jim celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in February. Keeping God first has grounded them as a couple and as a family. They have had the pleasure of attending Christ’s Church of the Valley for over fifteen years, where they have served in multiple capacities, including leading a bible study for families of special needs children and adults. The Byrnes are committed to walking in integrity and leading through service. Their love for each other, their children, and their community is evident in everything they do, making them a truly blessed family.

Statement:

I come from a family of educators; 11 within my own family. I have actively been involved in Peoria Unified for over a decade. My daughter graduated last year, who is now working within two schools as a special needs aide while attending college earning a degree in American Sign Language. My son is entering his senior year of high school within the district. My husband was a teacher, then principal within Peoria Unified. He now serves as an admin outside of the district. I have fundraised and volunteered for many educational projects over the years, including serving as the President of the Lions Parent Club where I led an effort where we gave every staff member two $50 gift cards for Christmas and teacher appreciation week. I did so because I truly believe if we recruit and retain the BEST teachers, it is one of the key methods to improving student outcomes and increasing enrollment. My main focus, if elected, will center on bettering student outcomes by increasing core subject proficiency. Current proficiency is 29-45%, while boasting a 95% graduation rate. This means our students are graduating without the vital knowledge necessary to be successful. I also purpose to restore parental trust through transparency and accountability, as well as work to eliminate personal and political agendas from the classroom. Because of my love for educators, students, and community, as well as my desire to actively work to address & improve our district’s problem areas – I chose to run for this position.