New MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins assembles transition team loaded with experience

John Klyce, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read

Leading Memphis-Shelby County Schools is no small task. The district has about 100,000 students, 14,000 employees, a slate of ambitious academic goals, and the makings of a comprehensive infrastructure plan.

So, as she immerses herself in MSCS, new superintendent Marie Feagins, Ed.D., is establishing a transition team brimming with experience in the education sector. She’s also partnered with the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS), a coalition of 78 of the country’s largest public school systems dedicated to improving education for children in inner cities.

“The Council of the Great City Schools is a highly respected organization that uniquely supports the needs of sizable, urban districts like Memphis-Shelby County Schools,” Feagins said, in a press release. “I predict they will serve to sharpen my vision, and I look forward to our collaboration as I embark on this journey.”

CGCS is expected to work with Feagins in the coming months on a systems review focused on operations, engagement and communications, and equity and inclusion. And three of its top staffers are on Feagins’ transition team. They are:

  • Michael Hinojosa, Ed.D., CGCS’ superintendent-in-residence, who spent more than 27 years as a superintendent and CEO of six public school systems. Two of these ― the Dallas Independent School District and Cobb County School District ― are among the largest in the U.S.

  • Ray Hart, Ph.D., the executive director of CGCS, who has more than 30 years of experience in research and evaluation. His past clients have included federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of State, the National Science Foundation. He’s also worked with various state and local education departments.

  • Michael Casserly, Ph.D., a strategic advisor to CGCS who was its executive director from 1992 to 2021.

More: Superintendent for Memphis schools addresses possible job changes, federal funding cliff

There are also superintendents and former superintendents on Feagins’ transition team who aren’t CGCS staffers. They are:

  • Carol Johnson-Dean, Ed.D., former superintendent of Memphis City Schools

  • Adrienne Battle, Ed.D., superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools

  • Sharon Contreras, Ph.D., former superintendent of Guilford County Schools

  • Barbara Jenkins, Ed.D., former superintendent of Orange County Public Schools

  • Aleesia Johnson, Ed.D., superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools

The rest of Feagins’ transition team will be announced at a later date, and the unveiling of its initial members comes nearly two weeks into her tenure as superintendent.

Since stepping into the role on April 1, Feagins has moved at a breakneck pace. She has connected with students, parents, and community members through her Voice Improves Partnership (VIP) tour, held meetings with local leaders and staffers, and looked closely at issues in the district and wider community that need to be addressed.

She has also spoken candidly with the media about the possibility of school closures and personnel adjustments.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MSCS superintendent announces transition team members