Interim Memphis-Shelby Count Schools Superintendent discusses plan to improve communication and rebuild trust

Dr. Roderick Richmond (Photo by Memphis-Shelby County Schools)

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond says improving communication and a focus on academics are some of his chief priorities to enhance student outcomes and rebuild trust.

In January, the Memphis-Shelby County School Board appointed Dr. Richmond as Interim Superintendent, after months of turmoil led to the ouster of former MSCS Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins.

After just a month on the job, Dr. Richmond sat down recently with School Board Chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman for a wide-ranging discussion on his history with the district, what he’s accomplished so far, and his goals for the future of MSCS.

“All my life, I’ve considered myself to be an educator,” said Dr. Richmond, who has worked in education for more than three decades.

His career began as a substitute teacher in Memphis in 1992. From there, he moved through the ranks as a language arts teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Most recently, he served as Transformation Officer for the district. In that role, he oversaw 76 low-performing schools given a “D” or “F” by the state. He also managed charter schools, athletics, disciplinary hearings, and College, Career, and Technical education programs.

In his new position as Interim Superintendent, he said one of his main priorities is to improve communication, which is something administrators, board members, and parents have previously said was lacking.

“The first thing is for me, board relations in governance,” said Dr. Richmond. “I think the most important thing for me is to be able to work closely with the nine people who are responsible for me being here, so the first thing I want to do is to build those close relationships.”

Dr. Richmond says he has begun holding daily briefings with board members on district happenings. He also now sends out weekly updates to administrators and other stakeholders and is in the process of evaluating the way work sessions and meetings are held to make them more efficient. He says he wants to ensure lines of communication are always open for anyone from parents to teachers and members of the community.

“We want to always operate with a sense of transparency, with integrity and trust in how we manage our dollars, how we are fiscally responsible, so people can trust we’re getting a return on investment,” he said.

A deep dive into academic programming and the organizational structure of the district is next on his list. Dr. Richmond pointed to a recent audit of MSCS by the Council of the Great City Schools, which was ordered by former Superintendent Feagins. It found the district needs clear academic direction and lacks organizational stability. Dr. Richmond says he and his team are analyzing that audit in addition to gathering other information to make data-driven decisions about where to make changes to ensure students are college and life ready, and that teams at every school have the support they need.

 “We want our principals, and our teachers, and our students to always be able to receive the materials and resources they need to improve academic outcomes,” he said.

A focus on what Dr. Richmond calls “the five As”: Academics, attendance, attitude, the arts, and athletics, is also central to his strategy moving forward. He says improving the school environment and ensuring both students and staff have the social and emotional support they need in addition to excellent academic curriculum is crucial to ultimately ensuring kids are in the classroom each day.

“We want a culture and climate where all of our stakeholders feel included, they feel heard, and they also know it’s a safe conducive place for learning,” he said.

He went on to praise Cordova High School choir director Adrian Maclin, who won the 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year award. Dr. Richmond says a focus on arts education and athletics is crucial to a well-rounded academic environment. He said he has taken a boots on the ground approach to visiting schools, and has seen some great sports, music, and other arts programs at all school levels, something he plans to encourage and continue to build on.

 “When we start talking about feeder patterns and feeder pattern development, those are the types of things we want to see, where we’re seeing elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools with their feeder patterns and communities doing outstanding things,” said Dr. Richmond. “We want to cultivate those things that we know, are God-given talents that our students have.”

Dr. Richmond says he doesn’t plan to lead from Central Office. Instead, he says he will continue to not only be present in schools but also work to mend and create relationships with the community.

 “As the leader of this district, it is my responsibility to bring people together and to not be divisive,” he said. “I recently told principals, I want you to judge me not by how I navigate the peaks, but how I navigate and deal with the valleys. So, I’m all in on doing what’s right by this community, on rebuilding trust.”