The Comeback: An evening of stories from Memphis educators and students

RSVP to attend Chalkbeat’s event on Aug. 24.

The event title, “The Comeback: An evening of stories from Memphis educators and students “ is displayed in white text against a blue backdrop. Next to the title is a photo of a storyteller from a previous event.
Join Chalkbeat, New Memphis, and Spillit for an evening of true stories from Memphis students and educators on Aug. 24. (Photo Xzavier Bonds for Chalkbeat.
Graphic Lauren Bryant / Chalkbeat.)

Time: Aug. 24, 6-8:30 p.m. CT

Location: 409 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103

A new school year is starting following what was meant to be a comeback year for America’s schools — a return to classrooms and rebuilding of communities after months of remote or hybrid learning, disconnection, and uncertainty.

And for many schools, it was a comeback year, at least for a while. Schools fully reopened for in-person learning. Vaccines were available for teens and would soon be for children over 5. Districts mapped out how to spend an unprecedented amount of federal COVID relief money.

But the buildings that swung open their doors to students in the fall of 2021 were changed — as were the students and educators who filled them.

Join New Memphis, Chalkbeat Tennessee, and Spillit for an evening of stories from students and educators that speak to the theme “The Comeback,” on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 6-8:30 p.m. at 409 S. Main Street in Memphis. New Memphis will also announce its new class of Educators of Excellence. Special thanks to our editorial partner for this event, The Daily Memphian.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and light refreshments and drinks will be provided. This event is free to attend, but RSVP so we know you are coming. Celebrate the start of a new school year with us by listening to these powerful stories.

Storytellers include:

  • Omolola Ajayi, seventh grade teacher at Wooddale Middle School
  • Shreya Ganesh, senior at White Station High School and Bank of America student leader
  • Athumuni (Arthur) Niyokwizigigwa, sophomore at Central High School and student leader with the Refugee Empowerment Program
  • Curley Harris, dean of students at Promise Academy Spring Hill
  • Natalie Nixon, senior at Houston High School and student leader with BRIDGES
  • Josh Czupryk, director of academic operations at University Schools
The Latest

Roughly 12% of Chicago residents age 16 to 24 are not working or in school. Black teens are most impacted.

The national effort will also support young people who want to enter the behavioral health workforce with stipends and experience.

El distrito escolar de Adams 14 recibirá más tiempo para continuar su plan de mejoras trabajando con socios administrativos parciales, después de un voto del Consejo Estatal de Colorado la semana pasada.

Mayor Eric Adams has insisted all families who want spots in the city’s preschool programs would receive them, despite budget cuts to early childhood education.

Illinois high school juniors will have to take the ACT to graduate starting spring 2025. This comes at a time when most colleges and universities are again requiring students to take entrance exams for the admissions process.

Council members questioned officials as the looming expiration of federal COVID relief money threatens to shave $808 million from the Education Department’s budget.