Updated 5/26/2026 with Lt. Gov. McNally’s and Speaker Sexton’s appointments.¶
The makeup of a 9-member oversight board for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is nearly completed following the appointment of seven of it members.¶
Governor Bill Lee announced five appointees on Friday following the signing of a new state law, which allows the state to appoint an oversight committee for school districts that meet certain criteria. All but one of the appointees must be residents of Shelby County.¶
The first five appointees include:¶
·Tyrone Burroughs, Chairman, First Choice Global and Founder, The Burroughs Foundation¶
·Dorsey Hopson, Partner, City Fund¶
·Shanea McKinney, Senior Advisor of Product Management, The Cigna Group¶
·Nisha Powers, Founder and President, Powers Hill Design¶
·Beverly Robertson, Co-Founder and COO, Trust Marketing and Communications¶
On Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally appointed former MSCS board member Billy Orgel and Memphis attorney Dedrick Brittenum, Jr. to the board, while House Speaker Cameron Sexton appointed SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri, according to Memphis media reports. Mansouri is the lone representative from outside of Memphis. ¶
Sexton has not named his final appointee. ¶
The board will have the power to make any changes it deems necessary in the school district, including hiring and firing board members or superintendents.¶
“Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and throughout the Lee Administration, we’ve made significant investments to ensure students in Shelby County receive a quality education that best fits their unique needs,” Gov. Lee said in a statement. “I’m pleased to appoint these highly qualified individuals, and I’m grateful for their willingness to serve Memphis families and help strengthen outcomes for students across the community.”¶
What Led to the Oversight Board
Calls for the state to step in and take action in Memphis-Shelby County Schools began last year after the board voted to dismiss former superintendent Marie Feagins, who had been in the role for under a year.¶
The district has since come under scrutiny for low academic outcomes, and a recent preliminary audit, which Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower said uncovered “widespread operational failures.”¶
