MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Shelby County Schools board members are set to discuss the future of Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins on Tuesday during a school board meeting.
Some parents we spoke with say the board is doing right by talking about ending her contract while others say Dr. Feagins needs more time.
“Ten months isn’t enough. Yeah, it’s ten months I get it but we haven’t even been through a whole school year. Let’s see what the test scores come out. Let’s get all of the data before we just get rid of her,” said parent Latisa Jenkins.
The Memphis Shelby County School board hired Doctor Marie Feagins in February of 2024. She formally started her new role in April.
Since then, Dr. Feagins has started programs like ‘Hey Neighbor’ to help with the truancy rate.
Feagins claims MSCS’s numbers are down where they need to be in areas like chronic absenteeism and discipline rates and up where they need to be in areas like pre-K enrollment.
However, several top leaders have quit in a short amount of time.
“I don’t personally know how hard she is to deal with but to make real change, it’s going to take tough skin to do it,” Jenkins said.
Many parents at East High School agree with Jenkins.
“I have no complaints,” one parent said.
WREG spoke with a parent who is deaf. She was more comfortable writing down her thoughts.
She believes the school board is right, especially after many staff were offered jobs closer to the classroom and with less pay.
She wrote, “Dr. Marie Feagiuns did not recognize the deaf community in the school system. She changed a lot – I want to know why.”
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m.