Inclement weather pushes back Memphis superintendent search

The snow that’s blanketed Tennessee this week is forcing Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) to push back the final phase of its superintendent search.The district had planned to host community engagement and school board interviews with three finalists this week but those meetings will now take place on February 1 and 2.The district is considering Atlanta Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Yolanda C. Brown, Portland Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and School Communities Cheryl Proctor, and Detroit Public Schools Chief of Leadership and High Schools Marie N. Feagins for the position.Under the new schedule, school board members will host a full day of community engagement on February 1 at the Teaching and Learning Academy on Union Avenue. This will include a city tour, community meetings, and meet and greet opportunities.School board members will hold live-streamed interviews with the finalists on February 2. Each interview will run for two hours with community meetings taking place during those time blocks.“We look forward to hosting our three finalists next week,” said Board Member 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.”The community engagement part of the process is designed to provide Memphis residents with an opportunity to interact with and get to know the finalists. This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the process is transparent following complaints early in the search process.In recent months the district has also encouraged community engagement through tailgate talks, community meetings, and involving residents in the interview process.“Transparency has been at the heart of this search for the district’s next great leader,” said Board Member Stephanie Love, co-chair of the Superintendent Search Committee. “We continue to welcome public engagement and encourage all interested stakeholders to stream the interviews or attend in person.”“We have incorporated community voice in every step of the process this year,” said Board Chair Althea Greene. "We are thrilled by the community's investment thus far and hope that many will make the time to engage with our candidates, including attending or watching the interviews online, as we hear from three strong leaders vying to make a positive impact on our children.”The board aims to have a new superintendent selected by spring and have that superintendent starting by July 1.