Kyra is a passionate advocate for racial, social, and educational equity, committed to changing systems to improve outcomes across Oakland, especially for those most marginalized. As a former Oakland public school teacher, Kyra saw firsthand how under-resourced and underserved communities - most often communities of color - are treated. Those disparities are what drove her to take a more systems-level approach where she most recently served as the Deputy Director of Education in the Office of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, where she was able to launch and co-lead Teachers Rooted in Oakland (TRiO) and TRiO Plus to increase recruitment and retention of teachers of color by addressing the cost of housing. While in the Mayor's Office, Kyra also co-wrote legislation passed by voters that will bring in more than $30M annually to increase access to and quality of preschool, as well as support students to and through college; she played an instrumental role in #OaklandUndivided to ensure all Oakland public school students have a computer, internet, and culturally competent tech support; and she helped raise over $5M for COVID relief to ensure the basic needs of Oakland's most vulnerable residents were met when the pandemic hit.

Kyra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Brown University and a Master’s Degree in Urban Education with a focus on Policy and Administration from Loyola Marymount University. She has been recognized for her work as a Forbes 30 under 30 lister and Diablo Magazine 2021 Agent of Change. Kyra always gives 100%, except when donating blood. She enjoys mastering crossword puzzles with a cup of tea, exploring the Bay Area’s beautiful trails with her dog Noodle, and running into friends at Lake Merritt.