From the Delta to DC: How Wilberta Bynum Became a Champion of Change in Education

By Minetre Martin

Wilberta’s belief in transformation is deeply personal. Growing up as the tenth of eleven children in Yazoo City, Mississippi, she experienced firsthand the power of resilience, hard work, and community. Today, as a leading advocate for education reform in Washington, DC, Wilberta’s life is a testament to what’s possible when passion meets purpose.

Raised in a faith-filled home by parents who valued discipline, education, and hard work, Wilberta grew up surrounded by love and resilience. Her mother, a cosmetologist, and her father, a butcher, achieved what seemed impossible in their small Delta town: ensuring all 11 of their children went to college. Wilberta’s childhood was rich with mentors who opened her eyes to life’s possibilities and taught her to dream beyond the limit of her surroundings, whether sewing and cooking with her home economics teacher to performing in show choir.

These early experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong belief in the transformative power of education and community.Wilberta’s professional journey began with a cosmetology degree, leading her to open five successful salons and travel nationwide as an educator for prominent beauty brands like Mizani. However she soon realized that colleagues with advanced degrees were progressing further, sparking her return to school.

Determined to grow, she earned a degree in business administration, studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, developed and ran the study abroad program at Alabama A&M, and later joined Howard University to train as a foreign service officer.

Wilberta outside a Madrid arena during her study abroad program in Spain in 2007. She attended a traditional Spanish bullfight as part of her cultural exploration.

Wilberta’s Purple Diamonds dance team participated as Washington Wizards guests in the Wharf parade. The group’s performance highlighted their dedication and talent.

But her path took an unexpected turn when substitute teaching in DC Public Schools opened her eyes to the profound inequities in education - an experience that ultimately redirected her life’s purpose. In DC, Wilberta witnessed stark inequities plaguing public education across neighborhoods— gaps that left Black, Brown, English Language Learners, and students with special needs without the resources they deserved. Determined to make a difference, she earned her master’s degree in teaching and became a passionate  advocate for families. Her work included guiding families to navigate complex systems and ensuring students received proper evaluations, IEP amendments, and support. Wilberta’s efforts have given parents the tools to advocate for their children and inspired communities to believe in their power to make lasting change. 

During the pandemic, Wilberta created DC’s first virtual cosmetology curriculum, exposing the lack of standardized frameworks in Career and Technical Education. This fueled her mission to push for systemic reforms including curricula designed by minority leaders to reflect the diversity of students they serve.

“Teachers need to see themselves as contributors to the systems they work in.”

Wilberta Bynum teaching her CTE cosmetology class at Roosevelt STAY Opportunity Academy in 2019. The program prepared students with real-world skills for their future careers.

Wilberta mentoring a single-parent student during the Society of Women Engineers’ ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering’ event in 2023. The program encourages young women to pursue STEM careers.

Wilberta’s  collaboration with Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA) has been instrumental in amplifying her voice and building coalitions for change.

“ERNA made me feel like I’m not alone. They’ve given me the tools to fight for the change our students deserve.” 

Wilberta’s journey is a testament to the power of purpose and persistence. She stays grounded through introspection, meditation, and surrounding herself with positive energy. “Seeing families regain hope and students thrive fuels me,” Wilberta says. Her advice to aspiring advocates is simple: “Join a community. Together, we can achieve what feels impossible.”

From Yazoo City to the forefront of education reform in DC, Wilberta Bynum’s journey is a powerful reminder that purpose and persistence can change the world.