MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis-Shelby County School board named Tutonial 'Toni' Williams its interim superintendent Tuesday.
It was a quick decision, in a packed meeting Tuesday night. The new interim superintendent was voted on 8-0, unanimously.
MSCS described Williams, the district's chief financial officer, as an experienced professional and homegrown product of the district. She developed the district's largest historical budget of over $2.2 billion, including all academic fiscal planning.
"It’s just my privilege to be able to look out and say hey we got what we need right here," said board vice-chair Althea Greene. "We have someone who has a very capable CFO who does such a great job but yet she knows the academic peas, she knows it all.”
Under Williams' oversight, MSCS was named a "Best for All" district by the Tennessee Department of Education.
The district was being led by deputy superintendent Dr. John Barker and Dr. Angela Whitelaw. They were in charge since July when the district put Dr. Joris Ray on paid leave.
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Ray resigned last week after an investigation amid allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with employees.
Greene said Tennessee law and policy states one director of education is required for the superintendent position, dispelling notions of Barker and Whitelaw sharing the role permanently.
When addressing the media for the first time as interim superintendent Williams shared her history with the district.
“I am a product of this district," said Williams. "So I am having a humbling moment right now to serve the district that has truly served me.
She detailed her focus as two-fold, starting with academic performance.
"We have a dynamic academic team," said the new interim superintendent. "We are a level five district so I am committed to continue that momentum.”
Second, she named business operations and procedures.
"I want us to do a review of that, right? There are opportunities for improvement,” commented Williams.
ABC24's Rebecca Butcher asked board chair Michelle McKissick who would be best to fill the superintendent role long-term.
“A big point of it is we were looking for someone who was not interested in serving in a permanent capacity," said McKissick. "So she fits the bill.”
The school board chair went on to say MSCS is looking both within and outside of Shelby County for a candidate. The first step is selecting a search firm.
“It is a step toward a search and a national search at that because we want to cast our net wide and make sure that any and everyone who may be interested, whether that is here locally or coming outside of Memphis-Shelby County Schools is open to them,” McKissick explained.
Likely top internal contenders for the permanent role are Dr. Barker, who is who runs finance and operations and Dr. Whitelaw, over academic success.
Greene said they both would be capable of serving in the role.