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
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The 18-year-old’s lawyer says his case is a “perfect storm” caused by increased immigration enforcement through the Memphis Safe Task Force and Trump-era federal policy changes.

State Sen. John Liu suggested the city could phase in smaller class sizes over four years instead of two. Any changes to the 2022 mandate are likely to spark debate in Albany.

The announcement at a Tuesday meeting comes as substantial changes for IPS are on the horizon that will dilute the elected school board’s power.

Supporters framed the bill as a money-saver for families. “I’m raising two daughters right now, and I think every $5 you can keep in your pocket is important,” one state lawmaker said.

College advisers said students with undocumented family members are fearful of filling out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid. The state also has lost a FAFSA data tool that made tracking student progress on the form easier.

Democrats hold the majority on the board, and they argued that the board should stay focused on key education issues such as literacy.