As Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) pushes ahead with a new approach to managing its schools, they've brought in a cadre of regional leaders to steer the ship. The Southwest Region's helm is taken by Lischa T. Brooks, with a clear mission to rethink the support structure within schools to serve students and families better. In a statement obtained by SCSK12.org, Ms. Brooks is described as a frontrunner in creating educational transformations, from lifting student voices to tackling longstanding systemic issues. Her passion for student empowerment, specifically in pursuing post-secondary success, is poised to play a pivotal role in the futures of many young learners in her jurisdiction.
As a veteran educator, Ms. Brooks' origins as a Latin and AP Latin teacher allowed her to kindle youthful connections with the ancient world, establishing a track record of academic excellence expected to inform her leadership in the Southwest Region. With involvement in the College Board's Advanced Placement Committee, she has hands-on experience creating and upholding rigorous academic standards. Brooks' educational pursuits, including doctoral research on "othermothering," are focused on developing robust community support systems designed to uplift African American girls and women. This is reflected in her extensive commitment to equity in education, as mentioned in SCSK12.org.
Throughout her career, Brooks has broken ground as the Founding Principal for the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy and the T-STEM Academy at East High School. Her leadership reached further, including developing an International Baccalaureate (IB) program application for the legacy Memphis City Schools, widening the horizons for students to engage with a globally-recognized and challenging curriculum. This is in lockstep with her role at KIPP Memphis Public Schools, where she masterminded a STEM program and oversaw the operational aspects of the regional schools, achieving remarkable status as Level 5 on TVAAS and Reward Schools classification.
Her work has not just been confined to the educational sector, as Brooks sits on the executive board of the Greater Memphis IT Council and the College Board's Access and Equity Board – leadership roles that suggest a broader impact on educational policy and systemic barriers. Her innovative flair has brought in over $10 million to bankroll fresh educational programs and landed her the STEM Educator of the Year title in 2023. Unanimously, the efforts of Brooks are believed to shape the face of education in the Southwest Region, to bring into focus a regional sense of belonging where understanding and efficiency reign supreme, as covered in the announcement from SCSK12.org.
The schools under the purview of Brooks' new role include well-known names like A. Maceo Walker Middle, Whitehaven High, and the Southwest Career & Technology Center, amongst others. These establishments are hoped to benefit from the regional leadership model, which aims to promote a more focused and responsive education system.
