Interim MSCS Superintendent Toni Williams to withdraw from superintendent search, continues as interim

The search for the next Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent will advance with interim Superintendent Toni Williams at the district helm but without her name in the pool as a finalist.

MSCS school board chair Althea Greene on Tuesday announced Williams' contract extension as interim superintendent could only be approved if she was no longer considered a candidate for the permanent position.

The announcement came as a surprise to those closely watching the superintendent race. Minutes before Greene's statement, a volley of public comments from many consistent critics of the search process asked the board to only move forward with Williams' contract extension if she was removed as a candidate for the full-time post.

As commenters lined up to issue remarks, attendees at a rally nearby chanted and watched the proceedings on smartphones. Among those at the rally were previously banned education advocates and members of several Memphis nonprofits that focus on education equity. As several activists are currently banned from coming onto district property, the rally took place just across the property line.

Those groups have been consistent in their criticism of the search process, opting at times to question Williams' qualifications. Her career background is in finance and does not include classroom experience. She joined the district in 2019 as the chief financial officer.

Board members were uniform in praising Williams for her leadership while operating as interim — mentioning Williams was appointed to the job in a moment of crisis for the district on the heels of former Superintendent Joris Ray's resignation in the thick of scandal.

"I have seen firsthand how hard you have worked," said board member Michelle McKissack. "We all want the same thing. We all want what’s best for children."

Board member Keith Williams enthusiastically ticked off accolades he sees in Toni Williams for several minutes but ultimately issued a warning that drew a mixed reaction from the crowd in the auditorium — a warning about hiring a non-Memphian for the superintendent position.

"No one cares for us, but us," Keith Williams said in an education-themed rendition of the motto, "Memphis vs. Errybody."

After board members made their remarks, the auditorium rose in a standing ovation for Toni Williams.

The board voted to extend Toni Williams' contract until August of 2024 in a 6-1 vote with board member Frank Johnson as the sole dissenter. Board member Amber Huett-Garcia was not present for Tuesday's work session.

With Toni Williams' withdrawal, the board is tasked to return to a superintendent search without a clear frontrunner. Wednesday, board members will meet with Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, the search firm tasked with the superintendent search.

An early June vote, critics said, watered-down candidate criteria with ambiguous qualifications. The thought of many critics was the board did so in an attempt to influence the search in Toni Williams' favor.

For her part, Toni Williams said she believed the qualifications allowed the board more flexibility in advocating and bringing forth candidates for the job.

New vice-chair elected

Tuesday night the board also elected Joyce Dorse Coleman as vice-chair in the wake of the departure of former board member Sheleah Harris.

Harris resigned mid-meeting in mid-June after the board voted to accept the modified list of qualifications.

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering issues tied to education, access, equity. She can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis-Shelby County Schools: interim superintendent to withdraw from search