Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Interim Superintendent Tutonial “Toni” Williams gathered with district leaders Thursday morning to commit to putting forward long-term, proactive, and sustainable solutions to address the root cause of violence impacting youth.
Community violence is an ongoing issue in the Memphis community that affects both youth and adults. According to MSCS, 22 students died from violence during the 2023-2024 school year.
“I recognize that crime affects us all, therefore it is the collective responsibility to combat it. Not just one person’s responsibility, not just one leader’s responsibility, but the collective responsibility. Our district will help fight crime in this community,” said Williams.
Williams said she believes the community has become jaded and that’s why leaders are addressing the longstanding issue. The interim superintendent called Memphis a “city of poverty” and said families are also struggling from poor mental health.
The district invests $20 million annually in behavior and mental support for students and families. This includes interventions, clinics, and establishing a task force for attendance and truancy to support parents.
The district also partnered with the district’s attorney’s office and juvenile court to strengthen and focus interventions and accountability along with expanding community schools, wrap-around services, and extracurricular activities before and after school to keep students and youths engaged.
Williams said the support needs to go beyond the school bell.
“We all must do more by ensuring that we remain focused, but we cannot do this work alone. The school system cannot do this alone. School should not only be a place where our students are encouraged and engaged. It must happen beyond the school bell, at home, in the community. And as a community, we must dive deeper into the key drivers that engage and disengage youth to truly understand what is impacting crime in this city,” said Williams.
District leaders plan to continue supporting teachers by creating engaging classroom environments, interventions to combat chronic absenteeism, and professional development to help staff understand the diverse challenges students face.
Additionally, the district is committing to maintaining open communication with families and providing the support they need to address challenges.
Williams also called for the engagement of elected leaders to support policies and initiatives that address and resolve those root causes of violence.
“I am taking a stance today and declaring myself and this district as a crime fighter,” said Williams. “We will all fight crime by doing everything we can to commit to our children by learning, by increasing attendance, by engaging, by holding accountability, but with accountability, providing the necessary resources to our students, our families, our parents.”
