Essential education reporting across America
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Samantha West

A woman sits in a blue chair; in the background, a wall mural says “mental health matters”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
MSCS board member Michelle McKissack sees a chance to change schools from the outside
Mayoral hopeful sees herself as a leader who can get district, city, and county to work together
By Samantha West
 
A woman stands behind a Memphis-Shelby County Schools podium next to two men and a woman
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Community panel advising Memphis-Shelby County Schools on superintendent search sets first public meeting
School board identifies four firms that applied to head the search
By Samantha West
 
Two students work at a wooden table with word puzzles.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board poised to select superintendent search firm this month
Timeline calls for naming the next leader of Tennessee’s largest school district by April
By Samantha West
 
A teacher works with students behind bookcases in a classroom, as a young girl sits on the floor in the foreground.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Meeting the Moment
How MSCS is trying to get pre-K programs — and preschoolers — back on track after COVID
The bigger objective of improving pre-K: Containing the pandemic’s long-term impact on children and their education in Tennessee’s largest school district.
By Samantha West
 
One man and four women sit behind a dais for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
MSCS and Millington school boards approve transfer of Lucy Elementary with 4-year transition
Sale price is $3.3 million; Millington will also pay for E.A. Harrold Elementary site
By Samantha West
 
Camille Collins, who has spent her entire 25-year teaching career at Germantown High School, paints the school logo on her classroom wall. A new pact will allow GMSD, and not MSCS, to control its namesake schools.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
MSCS and Germantown school boards back ‘three G’s’ settlement, ending 10-year dispute
Nine-year transition means thousands of current students won’t be displaced
By Tonyaa Weathersbee and Samantha West
 
Teachers play and dance with their young students in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teacher training
Porter-Leath teacher coaching program aims to professionalize early childhood education
Nonprofit giant becomes an influential force in early childhood workforce training
By Samantha West
 
An elementary teacher walks with a student to another classroom outside.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Memphis teachers still don’t have a contract. Their unions have different ideas about what’s next.
MSCS unions disagree over whether the district should sign the pending contract or start afresh.
By Samantha West
 
A female KIPP Memphis teacher answers a boy’s question while sitting at her desk in front of her laptop. Both are wearing masks; the teacher is wearing a bright blue and grey KIPP letter jacket, while the boy is wearing a navy sweatshirt with “KIPP” in brighter blue lettering.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Four Memphis charter schools are spared in MSCS board vote, despite academic deficiencies
Votes on two other schools recommended for closure are delayed amid lawsuit against district
By Samantha West
 
An empty bench, bearing the Germantown Middle School name, sits outside of a school building.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
‘Three G’s’ pact with Germantown would give MSCS $72.5M in county funds for new high school
Deal calls for a multiyear transition for affected families
By Samantha West
 
A student wearing a red shirt and protective mask raises his hand in an elementary school classroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
MSCS board speeds up superintendent search, unveils new website
New timeline calls for choosing the next leader by April 2023
By Samantha West
 
MEMPHIS, TN - April 15, 2021: The Believe Memphis Academy’s Badger Postal Service program delivers meals and school supplies to the students of Believe Memphis Academy.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board approves expansion of two charter schools
The vote to allow Believe to add K-3 went against the recommendation of district administrators, who raised concerns about the school’s academic performance
By Samantha West
 
Young students line up outside of a school building.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Community & Wraparound Programs
Student homelessness in Memphis-Shelby County Schools more than doubles
Administrator says there are likely thousands more beyond the district’s current count
By Samantha West
 
A woman stands in front of a podium with TV news microphones, with a man and woman standing beside her
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board to pick next superintendent in July under proposed timeline
Process calls for gathering input from the public, educators, nonprofits, and business leaders
By Samantha West
 
A woman wearing glasses gives high fives to a line of students in a school cafeteria
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis school board chair aims to rebuild trust, focus on academics as superintendent search starts
Amid leadership turnover and controversy, Memphis-Shelby County Schools board Chair Althea Greene wants to keep the focus on students.
By Samantha West
 
Six people sitting around a table converse in front of a wall with signs reading “We matter, our voices matter” and “Welcome to where we begin to make the powerless parent POWERFUL!”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis LIFT launches parent task force to assist in superintendent search
As the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board begins its superintendent search, the Memphis LIFT assembles a new task force to gather parent input.
By Samantha West
 
A woman wearing glasses speaks into a microphone while standing at a podium in Shelby County Schools’ central office auditorium.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
One Memphis teachers union takes the first step toward the bargaining table
Memphis’ two teachers unions disagree on whether to resume negotiations with the district
By Samantha West
 
A woman wearing a black blazer and pink top smiles while crrossing her arms
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
MSCS human resources chief is put on leave after complaint
Yolanda Martin is the second district official in recent weeks to be placed on administrative leave
By Samantha West
 
A boy wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue mask sitting behind a glass partition at his desk works on his computer.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee NAEP 2022
Memphis district records its lowest NAEP scores, showing COVID’s devastating impact
Results contrast with gains on state exam; racial disparities persist
By Samantha West
 
Woman speaks into table microphone
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission rejects two Memphis charter schools’ appeals
The commission’s decision upholds MSCS’ decision earlier this year to deny the applications for Binghampton Community School and Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy.
By Samantha West
 
A man sitting at a wooden desk speaks into a microphone
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Frank Johnson will join the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board
The community activist and former educator replaces longtime MSCS board member Miska Clay Bibbs, who left the board in August after winning election to the Shelby County Commission
By Samantha West
 
A man speaks from a podium while a woman sitting at a desk asks questions.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Tennessee Charter Commission head recommends against two proposed schools in Memphis
The recommendations uphold MSCS’ decision earlier this year to reject applications for Binghampton Community School and Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy
By Samantha West
 
A student speaks at a wooden “Germantown High School” podium in a school library as about 20 other students and teachers look on
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Germantown High students join fight to keep the ‘three G’s’ open
Students fear closure, being separated from their friends if Germantown schools leave MSCS
By Samantha West
 
Two women and two men sit behind the dais for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Three candidates seek open Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seat
The appointee will join the board as it embarks on its first national superintendent search in over a decade
By Samantha West
 
One man and four women sit behind a dais for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis school board delays start of superintendent search
New chair says she wants to get new members up to speed on the process
By Samantha West
 
Two women teachers interact with four preschool students in their classroom
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Diversity & Equity
How a bilingual preschool is trying to close Memphis’ literacy gap
Su Casa Preschool aims to provide quality early childhood education to Spanish-speaking immigrant children
By Samantha West
 
A woman wearing a red dress smiles for the camera in front of a grey backdrop
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
MSCS board Chair Michelle McKissack is mulling a 2023 mayoral run
She would become the third school board member to pursue higher office this year
By Samantha West
 
A students works on a laptop computer in a classroom
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
What kind of superintendent should Memphis-Shelby County Schools look for?
Tell us what qualities, experiences matter most to you in the next leader of Tennessee’s largest district
By Samantha West
 
Man wearing glasses speaks into microphone
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Top MSCS administrator is suspended with pay pending investigation into complaint
John Barker, deputy superintendent for strategic operations and finance, will remain on leave pending the outcome of an investigation
By Samantha West
 
Police investigate a crime scene at night with police lights glowing
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Gun Violence and Schools
After Memphis shooting spree, school leaders call for collaboration to stem violence
A call to channel ‘fears and frustrations’ into ‘action and solutions’
By Samantha West