byerschool foundation
About Us
OUR STORY
1999
Philadelphia Daily News columnist Russell Byers wrote frequently and passionately about how to improve the city’s public education and enthusiastically supported the creation of charter schools. He thrived on the excitement of city life and believed that a solid education has the power to change the life of a child… thereby changing the world. Russell died on December 4, 1999, when he was murdered during an attempted robbery. As a tribute to his life, the columnist’s family—Laurada Byers, his widow; his daughter, Alison Byers; and his son Russell Byers, Jr.—founded the Russell Byers Charter School to honors Russell’s lifelong commitment to civic responsibility, community service, and academic excellence, and to provide all children with the roots to grow and the wings to fly!
1999
Philadelphia Daily News columnist Russell Byers wrote frequently and passionately about how to improve the city’s public education and enthusiastically supported the creation of charter schools. He thrived on the excitement of city life and believed that a solid education has the power to change the life of a child… thereby changing the world. Russell died on December 4, 1999, when he was murdered during an attempted robbery. As a tribute to his life, the columnist’s family—Laurada Byers, his widow; his daughter, Alison Byers; and his son Russell Byers, Jr.—founded the Russell Byers Charter School to honors Russell’s lifelong commitment to civic responsibility, community service, and academic excellence, and to provide all children with the roots to grow and the wings to fly!
OUR TIMELINE
our founder
Laurada Byers
Laurada Byers founded the Russell Byers Charter School along with her 2 children in memory of her late husband, Russell Byers, who was an acclaimed newspaper columnist. She served as the chair of the Byerschool Foundation for many years and has dedicated herself for 24 years to the school and its EL education vision as a high quality school which focuses on the whole child. Laurada has previously headed the International House and served on their board for 38 years, focusing on engaging international students studying in Philadelphia. She has served on the board of the Philadelphia Film Society and was a founder of the Philadelphia Charters for Excellence. Under the firm she founded, Warthog Productions, she created the republicans and demoquacks which she sold at the national conventions. She is the author of three books, Book of Blessings, 52 Graces from Around the World and Wild Wisdom: Warthog Tales, a memoir. She graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Laurada Byers
Kym Shegog-Ramsey
OUR TEAM
Ruth Gelb
Director of Operations
Amanda Staab
Administrative Office Coordinator
Ruth Gelb
Director of Operations
Amanda Staab
Administrative Office Coordinator
OUR demographics
OUR core values
Early Learning
At RBCS we believe the journey of learning begins at a young age. That’s why we are only one of two schools in Philadelphia to offer a two year, full-day kindergarten
program that begins with four-year-olds (4k).
Expeditionary Learning
Expeditionary Learning is an innovative teaching approach based on the guiding principles of
the famed outdoor educational program, Outward Bound. EL
emphasizes high achievement through hands-on learning,
character growth, team work and community service.
The Whole Child
At RBCS, we don’t just educate our students. We focus on creating great citizens by teaching resilience and
responsibility for learning. It takes a holistic continuum of
support to build character and confidence from an early age.
Ours for Life
We measure the true value of a RBCS education by where students go when they leave our doors. Ours for Life is a full-service college-track program that supports our students throughout their education and especially in critical transition points in their academic careers.
Partnerships
RBCS takes full advantage of Philadelphia’s urban resources, using the city as an extension of the classroom. Through these rich partnerships, RBCS offers exciting programs that support our students’ learning experience both in the classroom and in the community.
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