Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins' team has experienced another shakeup with the resignation of Special Assistant Camalyn Turner. Hired in June, Turner's tenure was brief, lasting just four months. No specific reasoning behind Turner's decision to step down was detailed in her resignation letter, which set her final day in the role for October 22. The decision was communicated to the school district's Senior Leaders and Team Members on a Tuesday. Before joining MSCS, Turner's career included a stint in a similar capacity at Atlanta Public Schools, as per WREG.
Turner's departure marks the second recent resignation from Superintendent Feagins' cabinet, a pattern that hints at underlying currents in MSCS leadership. The exit of George Harris, Executive Director of Safety and Security, predated Turner's resignation, occurring in August amid labor tensions. While the Superintendent herself has not provided a statement directly addressing Turner's resignation, she defended recent staffing cuts, emphasizing trust and an absence of malicious intent: "What I have only offered and what I continue to say is, trust me until I give you a reason not to," said Feagins, per WREG.
Turner, during her tenure, acted as a bridge between the Superintendent's Office and various district departments, her experience spanning over 16 years in instructional and leadership roles. This move according to the MSCS Commissioner, has left just as quickly as she had arrived on the scene. Meanwhile, school board members have been contemplating changes to how they evaluate the Superintendent, potentially shifting the focus to factor in staff relations more heavily, as cited by Action News 5.
The news of Turner's resignation has come as a shock to some board members, including vice-chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman, who expressed her surprise to WREG: "I like so many others am just hearing this shocking news. No details have been given to the board. We wish Ms. Turner nothing, but the best." As for the legislative response, some, like State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, urge a measured approach to leadership turnover, indicating an understanding of the situation. "I don’t think it is anything unusual about having upheaval when you switch CEO’s and top people," Hardaway told WREG.
