MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The three finalist candidates in the long-awaited superintendent search for Memphis area schools are spending two days to engage with the community. Originally scheduled for Jan. 18 and 19, the dates were rescheduled for Feb. 1 and 2 due to the winter weather which moved through the Mid-South.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) announced two days of activities featuring Yolanda C. Brown, Dr. Marie Feagins, and Dr. Cheryl Proctor. The goal is to provide these candidates with a "greater understanding of the Memphis community, highlighting its strengths and some areas for improvement."
Starting Thursday, community meetings are set for the candidates at the Teaching and Learning Academy at 2485 Union Ave.
On Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, the candidates will interview with the Board and have additional opportunities for community engagement. The candidate interviews are said to also be planned to be livestreamed on the school district's social media platforms.
“We look forward to hosting our three finalists next week,” said Board Vice-Chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman, co-chair of the Superintendent Search Committee. “We are making one of the most important decisions we can make for the future of our students and our city. It is critical that the candidates have a clear picture of our District and the community we serve.”
MSCS's full schedule for the two days is as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024
- 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Superintendent candidate breakfast, city tour, lunch
Pre-registered Community Participation Begins
- 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Community meetings with the candidates, in 30-minute segments
- Location: Teaching and Learning Academy- 2485 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
Public Meet & Greet Event
- 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Community-wide open house/meet and greet reception
- Location: Teaching and Learning Academy- 2485 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
School Board Interviews - (Board interviews will be livestreamed.)
Location: Teaching and Learning Academy- 2485 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
- 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Board interview w/candidate 1; community meetings with the other two candidates in 30-minute segments
- 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Board interview w/candidate 2; community meetings with the other two candidates in 30-minute segments
- 2:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Board interview w/candidate 3; community meetings with the other two candidates in 30-minute segments
Dr. Yolonda Brown, Dr. Cheryl Proctor and Dr. Marie Feagins all boast decades of experience in high-profile leadership positions in public education. All three also come from school districts outside of Tennessee.
Dr. Feagins is the current Chief of High Schools and Leadership Development with the Detroit Public Schools Community District. During her tenure there, graduation rates have increased at 87 percent of schools, students have scored higher on the SAT and various state tests, and in 2022, 30 percent of schools saw graduation rates go up while the dropout rate went down.
“Growth is where the story is in terms of the work that’s being done,” Dr. Feagins told the school board Friday.
Dr. Brown is the Chief Academic Officer for Atlanta Public Schools, where she has spent 30 years overseeing at least 50,000 students. She was also in charge of creating the district’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
“I’m able to communicate with those board members so that they are informed, that they can walk out into their communities and articulate exactly what we’re doing as a school district,” Dr. Brown said during her open interview.
Dr. Proctor is the Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and School Communities for Portland Public Schools. She has experience working in school systems in Florida (Broward County Public Schools), Pennsylvania (School District of Philadelphia) and now Oregon. She oversaw double-digit increases in state testing in 2022, while the four-year and five-year graduation rates both went up for the 2021-2022 school year.
