Progress 2022: Distinguished Through the Decades

At Russellville High School, Heather (Barber) Boyd teaches human anatomy and physiology as well as environmental science. She is also co-sponsor of the National Honor Society and works with the 21st Century Learning After-School Program at Russellville Elementary.

She’s also Franklin County Junior Miss 1993.

Boyd said while a student at Belgreen, she was a shy, quiet, studious young woman. She was involved in varsity cheer, Beta Club, FBLA and Student County, and she “loved reading and spending time with my family and friends.”

“I had never participated in many pageants or programs like DYW,” said Boyd. “I was a Little Sister the previous year in the program, and a lot of people encouraged me to give it a try.”

As Franklin County’s representative to the state competition, Boyd said she enjoyed meeting new people. “The hardest part was being away from home.”

Scholarships she received help pay her way through college – first at Northwest-Shoals Community College and then at the University of North Alabama.

“I initially wanted to do something with medicine, but I also loved history; I got engaged during this time, so I changed my major to education,” Boyd said. She married Heath Boyd in 1997 – so the two are approaching their 25th anniversary – and graduated the following year with a Bachelor of Science education degree in biology and history.

“I am now a STEM-certified general science with 23 years of teaching experience,” said Boyd. “I started teaching at Deshler High School in 1999-2005. I moved to Russellville High School, where I still currently teach.”

The Boyds have three daughters, Layne, Audrey and Abby, and the family lives in the Belgreen community. In her spare time, Boy said she enjoys reading and spending time with family, which, in addition to her daughters, includes three dogs, Heidi, Molly and Foxy. She also loves watching football, although she noted they are a “house divided,” with fans of both the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Boyd said her future plans include leaving the workforce in the next seven years, entering a retirement filled with travel.

To those considering taking part in Distinguished Young Women, Boyd hails it as “a great opportunity for young women to become involved, meet new friends and earn scholarship money.”

My daughter Layne was the scholastic winner and second alternate for Franklin County DYW 2016-2017,” she added. “The support for furthering a young lady’s education is amazing.”