Memphis schools’ next superintendent will be one particular of these three finalists

Much more than six months just after committing to a nationwide superintendent search for the new chief of Memphis-Shelby County Universities, the school board announced the a few finalists for the job Saturday morning. 

The new superintendent of Tennessee’s largest school district will be Brenda Cassellius, just lately of Boston General public Colleges, Carlton Jenkins of Wisconsin’s Madison Metropolitan University District, or Toni Williams, the recent interim superintendent of MSCS. Williams was appointed on the premise that she was not intrigued in using the purpose permanently, but adjusted her placement as soon as the look for was underway.

Public interviews of the finalists are scheduled for April 21 and 22, when every single candidate will have a chance to make their scenario for major a district whose college students have urgent academic requires in the wake of the pandemic. The board will vote on a new leader at a potential board conference.

The a few finalists ended up chosen by  Hazard, Younger, Attea and Associates of Schaumburg, Illinois, the organization the board employed to find opportunity successors to previous Superintendent Joris Ray. Ray resigned in August 2022 amid an external investigation into allegations that he abused his power and violated district guidelines.

“There is no job extra essential than this suitable now, as our leader will help form the lives of above 100,000 young children as well as our workforce of the upcoming,” board Chair Althea Greene stated Saturday in advance of finalists have been announced.

Hazard Younger picked the finalists from between 34 candidates, of whom 21 achieved qualifications for an job interview and 12 proceeded to the very last phase. The board didn’t have enter on the finalist picks, and Hazard Younger didn’t implement a essential board coverage about minimum practical experience prerequisites.

Candidates for the posture were being evaluated versus a rubric with 16 groups, which included evaluations of application files furthermore references, “Memphis connection” and in shape with MSCS’ desires. 

Browse a lot more about the finalists below, in alphabetical get by final title:

Brenda Cassellius was just lately the superintendent at Boston Community Universities for three decades, and was the statewide schooling commissioner in Minnesota for just about a 10 years prior to that. Cassellius preferred to keep extended in the Boston management placement, The Boston World claimed, but remaining the task past summertime. Her departure was declared as a mutual decision, but Cassellius explained to the Globe that not too long ago elected Boston Mayor Michelle Wu “should be capable to decide her very own staff.”

In Boston, Cassellius diversified the district’s examination faculties, which require checks for admissions, the Globe reported. But for the duration of her tenure, which ran the length of the pandemic, she faced criticism from teachers, principals, and the academics union.

Cassellius has ties to Memphis: She gained her doctorate in instruction from the College of Memphis in 2007, according to a resume printed by Boston Community Faculties, and was an academic leader for Memphis Metropolis Schools’ middle colleges from 2004 to 2007. 

Carlton Jenkins introduced options to retire as superintendent of Wisconsin’s Madison Metropolitan University District in February. He assumed the role in August 2020 right after a occupation in training that the Wisconsin State Journal wrote involved a superintendency in suburban Minneapolis.

“Jenkins has prided himself on staying a chief and a position model for Black students and workers in the district. He has been passionate about revamping the district’s reading curriculum,” the Journal wrote. 

In Madison, Jenkins was the district’s to start with Black superintendent, in accordance to Lake Geneva Regional Information, and has been the president of the African American Superintendents Association. 

Toni Williams grew to become the interim superintendent of MSCS final August on the premise that she was not intrigued in the part completely. She then changed her posture and utilized for the position final thirty day period. She has relished guidance from community and board users alike as she focused on accountability measures throughout her interim tenure. 

In advance of she was the interim superintendent, Williams was the chief monetary officer for the district, appointed to the role in 2019 by Ray. She arrived to the district from a equivalent job at nearby Millington Municipal Universities, and labored for the district’s finance business office for about a few yrs just after the city and county districts merged. Williams does not have academic encounter outside of her interim position. 

Williams is a indigenous Memphian and a graduate of Whitehaven Higher University.

This is a establishing tale and will be updated.

Laura Testino addresses Memphis-Shelby County Educational facilities for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Attain Laura at [email protected].