Tyra Howard is currently chair of the Valdosta board of education, representing district four. She was first elected in 2018 and has been in office for one term.

Tyra is an adjunct instructor at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Tyra is originally from Lowndes County. She attended Lowndes High School. She has a bachelor's degree in education from Valdosta State University and a master's degree in business administration from Walden University. She lives with her husband, Eric, and their three children.