Just over a week into her tenure, new Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins hit the ground running with visits and plans that suggest urgency and engagement in her approach to tackling the district's challenges. In a recent statement obtained by FOX13 Memphis, Feagins said, "We own that we have urgent work to do," signaling a readiness to address the issues head-on since her first day on the job.
Feagins, who has taken the reins of a district housing roughly 100,000 students and 14,000 employees, is no stranger to the difficulties posed by high poverty rates and academic hurdles at MSCS; her strategic plan launches with a mission to observe and evaluate the current state of schools, a task she has already undertaken with visits to institutions such as Melrose High School and Fox Ridge Elementary, as reported by FOX13 Memphis and further detailed in a WMC report where MSCS shared social media updates of her immersive community engagement.
Feagins also spoke to her intent to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan drawing on insights both from within and outside the district, a vision backed by District 6's MSCS Commissioner Frank Johnson, who expressed enthusiasm for her action plan and its potential to reintroduce valuable programs to schools, according to FOX13 Memphis.
Feagins' commitment extends beyond the walls of school buildings, exemplified by her birthday spent doing construction work with Habitat for Humanity; it was part of a celebratory week that included school visits, public engagements, and an eye towards fostering student opportunities for growth within and beyond Memphis, an account she shared with The Commercial Appeal. This hands-on leadership style punctuated by Feagins' declaration, "This is the work. And I plan to do it in such a way that it impacts you, but also your children, should you decide to have them," reflects her long-term investment in the position and the futures of the students under her purview.
Amid a packed schedule filled with strategic planning and avid community involvement, Dr. Feagins maintains poised energy, telling The Commercial Appeal, “Kids always rise. They're always excited. They always have a lot of enthusiasm. I think it's just providing them the opportunity to take center stage, to really demonstrate what you saw with the debate team: the intellect, the savviness the personalities… Nothing surprises me, unless it is something that is disheartening, and I'm seeing it a little too much. But everything has been pretty good.” a statement that underscores her optimism and belief in student potential amidst the work ahead.
