Here’s what winners of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board election told us about their vision

The front of a building at dusk with a dark blue sky in the background.
The Memphis Shelby County School board is poised to see four new members as the district heads into a period of transition. (Andrea Morales / For Chalkbeat)

Memphis-Shelby County Schools has a newly elected school board following the Aug. 1 election, just in time for the upcoming school year.

In Tennessee’s largest school district, five of the nine seats on the school board — in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 — were up for election. It was the first election since board members selected former Detroit schools administrator Marie Feagins as superintendent, ending a drawn-out process that shook public confidence in the board.

Two incumbents lost their seats, including board Chair Althea Greene, who played a prominent role in the superintendent search. Natalie McKinney will replace Greene in District 2, while Sable Otey will replace board member Mauricio Calvo in District 5.

Tamarques Porter won the open seat in District 4, while Towanna Murphy is set to take the open seat in District 7. The incumbents did not run for re-election in those districts.

Stephanie Love, the longtime District 3 representative, is the only incumbent returning to the board.

Newly elected board members will oversee the district as it navigates a number of challenges, including the end of federal pandemic relief funds, budget cuts that will affect staff and programs, aging school buildings and possible closures, and the state’s new letter-grade school accountability system.

In our voter guide, Chalkbeat asked the 2024 board candidates about their vision for the district. We’ve compiled the answers below from Thursday’s election winners.

Chalkbeat lightly edited and condensed the submitted bios for clarity, but not their responses, other than adjusting the formatting to improve readability.


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It’s unclear how much the lawsuit has cost the district and how much fundraising appeals by the district and other groups have raised.

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Voters in the Weld Re-8 School District will elect 3 school board members on Nov. 4.

Board members asked what the district can do to center parents in conversations about attendance at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Revuluri, a former teacher and instructional specialist who previously served as school board vice president under Mayor Lori Lightfoot, said he wants to run to help improve student achievement and “stand up to special interests.”

Two of the four schools slated for closure are located in Frayser. MSCS leaders say next Wednesday’s meeting will give families important information about suggested shutdowns