Recent revelations from former school board members indicate a swell of regret after the hiring of Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins. The ousted members, including Rev. Althea Greene and Mauricio Calvo, have publicly expressed their concerns, casting doubt on Feagins' six-month tenure at Memphis-Shelby County Schools. According to WREG, Calvo admitted to perceiving a "very toxic culture" within the district, worsened under Feagins' leadership.
Despite prior enthusiasm, some board members now appear to have erred in their endorsement of Feagins. In letters obtained by Action News 5, Greene condemned the superintendent's actions, stating, "She was the least qualified candidate for the position, and her actions since coming onboard have shown her lack of experience as a leader." She also criticized Feagins for not sufficiently communicating with the board on key issues such as personnel changes and transitions.
Calvo similarly expressed disappointment, "I’ve talked to some the cafeteria workers and the things that have been going on inside there and, like you said they are not getting they money that they’ve been promised," MSCS board member Towanna Murphy told WREG.
According to a Action News 5 interview, Dr. Feagins' leadership strategies have not only been questioned but have also led to actions critically deemed as lacking follow-through by her critics. Calvo pointedly critiqued, "the work is already close to being mission impossible, and your actions often make it even more difficult." Dr. Feagins implemented a bold restructuring plan, leading to hundreds of layoffs, which according to opponents, resulted in the loss of vital institutional knowledge.
However, despite the chaotic reports, some voices within the community advise patience. Dianechia Fields from Memphis Lift believes Feagins deserves more time to make the necessary changes. Community advocate Sarah Carpenter suggested a similar sentiment to ABC24, "This lady ain't been here a year yet and they nailed her to the cross, man, and it's not fair. It's not fair." She emphasized the importance of focusing on the children, rather than the adult-centric disputes.
As Dr. Feagins faces her midterm evaluation, with a Nov. 1 deadline, the MSCS board must parse through these various perspectives. The responses and outcomes of her tenure, to now, remain a contentious topic within the Memphis education community, as reflected by the lack of comment from Memphis-Shelby County Schools on Greene's letter to ABC24.