Laquita Perry says she was born and raised in a South Memphis community where public schools struggled to provide a quality education.
In an email to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, Perry says it wasn’t until it was too late to make informed career choices that she truly understood the array of possibilities available to her. She believes the proposed public charter school Empower Memphis Career and College Prep might offer something better for students today.
“Almost thirty years later, here I am, with an unyielding desire to become a nurse, driven by my work at a local hospital. It’s a path I’m excited about, but I can’t help but wonder, what could my career projection have been if I had the privilege of attending a school like Empower Memphis in my formative years,” wrote Perry. “Imagine a child growing up in the same conditions I did, but with access to Empower Memphis. They could explore fields like healthcare, technology, or skilled trades from a young age. They could receive hands-on training, mentorship, and a solid foundation that would propel them toward successful careers and brighter futures. They would not have to wait until their junior year of high school, like I did, to find their passion.”
Perry’s email is one of more than 80 commissioners received in support of the proposed school.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board members voted down Empower Memphis’ application in July and school leaders appealed to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission hoping to overturn that decision.
Commissioners held a public hearing earlier this month for the appeal and the board also received written comments from supporters, including prospective parents like Perry and Lena Davis who’d like to have a high-quality education choice closer to her home in Orange Mound.
“One of my children attends a charter school in Whitehaven. If she were to take the city bus, it would take her 2 and a half hours to get there. As a result, I drive her to school each and every day, which is about a twenty-minute drive. I make this effort because I care about the education of my children,” wrote Davis. “I firmly believe that Empower Memphis is a valuable option outside of traditional schools because it helps students like my children learn about career options so they can make the connection of what they are learning at school to what they want to become in the future.”
The proposed public charter school would serve K-8 students in the Orange Mound and South Memphis communities with a career technical education (CTE) model that’s designed to provide students with academic and technical skills through hands-on training and experience.
Other parents and educators wrote in support of the need for younger students in the area to have access to a career focused education.
“I have never heard of a school that begins teaching about careers at the elementary school level. The kids nowadays need this. With so much crime that is happening with our youth, it is directly related to not knowing what to do. I am encouraged by the opportunities that young kids will have through Empower Memphis,” said prospective parent Tracy Wright.
“By introducing career and technical education at such a young age, we’re empowering our kids to explore their interests, develop critical skills, and envision a future filled with possibilities. Empower Memphis aims to bridge the gap between education and employment. This initiative recognizes that our community needs a workforce equipped with practical skills, and what better way to achieve that than by instilling these skills right from the start,” said educator and Orange Mound resident Hazel Moore.
Commissioners did not receive any comments opposing Empower Memphis’ appeal, but the district told commissioners the decision against the proposed school came down to a school saturation issue.
The district charter review team believes Memphis’ Central City West region that includes the Orange Mound and South Memphis neighborhoods where Empower Memphis would be located, doesn’t need another school.
Commissioners will decide the appeal at a hearing next month.
