Just over a year after making the controversial decision to fire former superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins, members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board appear ready to appoint her permanent replacement.¶
At Tuesday night’s board work session, multiple members expressed support to keep interim superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond on the job. Board members elevated Richmond from district transportation officer to serve as the interim superintendent at the same meeting where they fired Feagins.¶
The board is expected to vote next week on whether to appoint Richmond or to start a new superintendent search.¶
Tuesday night, District 6 School Board Member Keith Williams said he was ready to support Richmond now, and District 7 Board Member Towanna Murphy said it “wouldn’t be hard” to forgo starting a new superintendent search in favor of the leadership she’s seen the last year.¶
“For the first time, we have a clear academic plan,” said Murphy. “I see us moving in the direction that we need to move in. I appreciate that.”¶
“Dr. Richmond has given quality service,” said Williams. “It is time for us to put this young man in the position because he has done everything better than anyone we have brought in from afar.”¶
Favorability Gap Between Teachers and Leaders¶
The decision on Richmond’s future follows Tuesday’s release of a poll of more than 2,000 teachers, staff, and school leaders, along with 8 of the 9 board members, regarding the interim superintendent’s performance.¶
That poll gauged each group’s favorability toward Richmond’s leadership and strategic vision, student achievement, staff/board relations and capacity, and operations and finance.¶
The results showed a noticeable gap between leadership and teachers.¶
At least half of the board members surveyed gave favorable ratings in each category, and no more than two gave him an unfavorable rating in any single category (operations and finance).¶
Central office staff members were even more favorable towards Richmond’s tenure, with at least 75 percent or above giving him a favorable rating in every category.¶
Dr. Richmond only received a favorable rating from half of the teachers polled on student achievement. His favorability ratings were in the 40s across each of the other categories polled.¶
According to district documents, respondents suggested increasing school-level presence, timely communication, and opportunities for shared decision-making as potential ways to close this favorability gap.¶
Turbulent Tenure¶
Richmond told board members on Tuesday that his administration is already working to address the challenges raised in the survey. He plans to send out communications to staff twice a month and to allot more time to visiting schools.¶
Richmond said making time for school visits has been more complicated during his tenure. Last year, the district faced the possibility of state intervention, and the General Assembly plans to continue discussing the possibility this year.¶
The district has also faced ongoing criticism from the Shelby County Commission.¶
“My ascent into this role was somewhat different than what other superintendents have ascended to. Whereas I’ve had to be back and forth to Nashville. I’ve had to do a number of things in building bridges throughout the community, and some of those things have prevented me from getting in schools the way I would like to get in schools, but if teachers want me to be more accessible, I have no problem with that,” said Richmond.¶
