Representative Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis) joined four members of the so-called “School Board Five” in a protest Friday outside the Memphis-Shelby County School Board retreat.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) banned the five community activists last month following disruptions during a decision to put the district superintendent search on hold.
That decision has since faced pushback from the Memphis community, including members of the activists’ families and friends. The “School Board Five” includes local activists Amer Sherman, LJ Abraham and Damon Morris, former teacher’s union president Tikelia Rucker, and former school board candidate Rachel Spriggs.
Multiple board members have since expressed a desire to meet with the activists and lift the ban and Board Chair Althea Greene thanked Representative Pearson for helping move that process forward.
“I publicly want to thank Representative Justin Pearson for even taking the time to be out there two hours with the people who were banned, helping us to get to a process that we can sit down at the table and end this. Thank you, for those of you who have been a part of that,” said Greene. “So many times, people don’t work for us, they work against. But I’m grateful for just a young representative who took time to come here today to help us get through some troubling times.”
Representative Pearson made national news earlier this year when the Tennessee House of Representatives expelled him and one other member of the so-called “Tennessee Three” for leading a protest on the House floor. Shelby County Commissioners returned Pearson to office a week later.
Friday’s retreat is the latest in a series of meetings school board members have had since May to reassess and reopen the superintendent search after putting it on hold.
Following two meetings where board members worked on the qualifications they’re seeking in a new leader, Friday’s meeting focused on finalizing those qualifications, improving communications between members, and working together to proceed with the next steps of the search.
“I want to say it publicly that all board members will be included in the process. We’re doing everything front and center. All board members will be included in the implementation process, the community engagement, and this timeline,” said board member Stephanie Love.
The board will hold its next meeting Tuesday to discuss final thoughts and vote on how to proceed with the superintendent search.
