Samantha West
Reporter, Chalkbeat Tennessee
Samantha West is a Reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee, where she covers K-12 education in Memphis. She’s a 2021 Education Writers Association Reporting Fellow and New to the Beat rookie. Before joining Chalkbeat, she was a K-12 education reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. While studying journalism and English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, she interned at The Washington Post and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as the Ann Devroy Fellow. A native Minnesotan and a seven-year Wisconsinite, she’s passionate about hotdish (not casserole) and the Green Bay Packers.
Administrator says there are likely thousands more beyond the district’s current count
Process calls for gathering input from the public, educators, nonprofits, and business leaders
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.
As the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board begins its superintendent search, the Memphis LIFT assembles a new task force to gather parent input.
Memphis’ two teachers unions disagree on whether to resume negotiations with the district
Yolanda Martin is the second district official in recent weeks to be placed on administrative leave
Results contrast with gains on state exam; racial disparities persist
The commission’s decision upholds MSCS’ decision earlier this year to deny the applications for Binghampton Community School and Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy.
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
The recommendations uphold MSCS’ decision earlier this year to reject applications for Binghampton Community School and Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy
Students fear closure, being separated from their friends if Germantown schools leave MSCS
The appointee will join the board as it embarks on its first national superintendent search in over a decade
New chair says she wants to get new members up to speed on the process
Su Casa Preschool aims to provide quality early childhood education to Spanish-speaking immigrant children
She would become the third school board member to pursue higher office this year
Tell us what qualities, experiences matter most to you in the next leader of Tennessee’s largest district
John Barker, deputy superintendent for strategic operations and finance, will remain on leave pending the outcome of an investigation
A call to channel ‘fears and frustrations’ into ‘action and solutions’
Strickland argues that parents and families have ‘allowed’ thousands of teens to skip or drop out of school
Board chair warns of possible conflict of interest
Agreement ends investigation and includes 18 months’ severance pay
MSCS board chair says investigation into Ray is now at a point where “the board and the public must be reengaged regarding the status of this issue”
In an interview with Chalkbeat, Antonio Burt reflects on his tenure so far and his vision for this year and beyond
Nearly half of the district’s schools also earn individual Level 5 marks, a sign of recovery from pandemic
Even with Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ superintendent on leave, district leaders say they’re focused on supporting students and continuing academic growth
Over 100,000 Memphis-Shelby County Schools students and 6,000 teachers will return to classrooms on Monday. But the superintendent remains on leave.
Six Memphis school board candidates reap donations from a political action committee intent on improving social and economic mobility in Shelby County.
Personnel records include evaluations of one of the women who worked under Ray at Memphis City Schools’ Office of Alternative Schools
Memphis board disregarded recommendation to deny Frayser network’s proposal, and instead approved Westside Middle School, which has an anti-racist theme.