Purpose and Justification:

This petition is to solicit interest and determine the viability of collecting signatures for the petition required, in accordance with Tenn. Code § 49-2-213, to seek recalling Chairman Joyce Dorse-Coleman from the Shelby County Board of Education. Be it found the general statement upon grounds for seeking the removal of Chairman Dorse-Coleman as follows:

• Chairman Joyce Dorse-Coleman’s remarks and conduct at the Specially Called Meeting held December 17th, 2024 were in violation of the Shelby County Board of Education’s Board Members’ Code of Conduct (adopted 3/31/2011) and Code of Ethics (adopted 8/27/1998); and the Shelby County School District’s Code of Ethics (adopted 8/26/2010).
• Chairman Joyce Dorse-Coleman failed to properly exercise carrying out her responsibilities as Board Chair as prescribed by the Shelby County Board of Education’s Board Officers and Duties policy (revised 12/6/2016).

How We Got Here:

A Specially Called Meeting was held on December 17th, 2024 to discuss terminating the employment contract of Dr. Marie N. Feagins, Superintendent for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Resolution 6.1 was drafted, then presented before the board by Chairman Dorse-Coleman to solidify the execution of terminating Dr. Feagins’ contract with the district and her subsequent employment. After three hours of public comment and debate by the board, a motion was passed allowing the resolution to be deferred to the January Committee Meeting. The final and deciding vote in favor of this motion was cast by Chairman Dorse-Coleman. The public was then directly addressed by Chairman Dorse-Coleman with the following remarks “I’m not doing it for the community, I’m doing it for my children. Let’s get this understood. Thank you." regarding her decision whilst the meeting was still in order and after casting her vote. 

Who Is Impacted:

Ultimately, all Memphians are impacted by the conduct of any board member, but especially that of the Board Chair. However, in addition to serving as Board Chair, Chairman Dorse-Coleman District 9—which includes a great portion of East and Southeast Memphis. Those most impacted by Chairman Dorse-Coleman’s conduct are the citizens who are zoned for schools within   District 9 jurisdiction. These schools are: Arrow Academy of Excellence (Charter), Aspire/Hanley (ASD), Bethel Grove Elementary, Cherokee Elementary, Colonial Middle, Compass Orange Mound (Charter), Cornerstone Prep School (Charter), Dunbar Elementary, Evans Elementary, Fox Meadows Elementary, Leadership Preparatory (Charter), Melrose High, Memphis Merit Academy (Charter), Newcomer International Center, Overton High, Parkway Village Elementary, Ridgeway High, Sea Isle Elementary, Sharpe Elementary, Sheffield Career & Technology, Sheffield Elementary, Sheffield High, Sherwood Elementary, Sherwood Middle, South Park Elementary, Willow Oaks Elementary, Wooddale (Green Dot), and Wooddale High. 

Why Is This Important:

For decades, the children of Memphis have been largely deprived of a consistent, quality public education. Failure to consistently deliver a quality public education has driven thousands of families out of Memphis and into the suburbs, thereby eroding our tax base as a city which consequently starves funding for other essential public services. In the last 8 months, Dr. Marie N. Feagins has made a significant headway towards correcting the issues that have plagued MSCS and spread throughout our community like a cancer. Students, parents, teachers, MSCS employees and the greater citizenry have all noticed this positive force of change. Another transition period to appoint a new superintendent will halt progress and we set forth to gamble with the success of future generations. Consider the following:

• The resolution to terminate Dr. Feagins was only brought forth by members of the Shelby County Board of Education after she had begun to expose the corruption that she had uncovered within MSCS. The claims and allegations lodged against Dr. Feagins within the resolution are baseless and inflammatory, pointing to ethical deficiencies.
  • Dr. Feagins has addressed any procedural discrepancies that she was made party to, publicly, and admitted to any oversights.
  • Dr. Feagins has publicly addressed what actions were taken to remedy any discrepancies or oversights she was aware of.
• Chairman Joyce Dorse-Coleman is in support of this resolution to terminate Dr. Feagins. Chairman Dorse-Coleman has also openly admitted that the decisions she will make in regards to this situation will be based upon her own personal interests and not the needs of the children and greater Memphis.
  • These statements and actions violate several policies/oaths/codes Chairman Dorse-Coleman swore to uphold when she took office as a board member.
    • The root of these statements and actions point to her own major ethical deficiencies that call to question Chairman Dorse-Coleman's true motivations for pursuing the termination of Dr. Feagins.
    • Other board members have conducted themselves similarly as their leader has set a poor example.
  • Terminating Dr. Feagins does not reflect accurately the opinions of the citizenry at large nor would it be in the best interest of the children by putting them through another transition period.
    • This was proven by the unprecedented amount of Memphians from every walk of life voiced their support of Dr. Feagins and disapproval of the resolution at the Specially Called Meeting.
• Our duty as the constituency is to hold these board members and other elected officials accountable. If we as a constituency fail to hold those elected officials accountable to responsibly carry out the duties of the office we elected them to, we are failing not only ourselves—but generations to come.
  • Failing to hold elected officials accountable when they purposely defy their oaths, unashamedly disregard codes of ethics and blatantly violate conduct standards—we set forth to even ordain criminal behavior as acceptable.
  • Chairman Dorse-Coleman dares us to hold her accountable by stating on her official bio page “, "We must have people in place who are willing to be held accountable for what is taking place and that is just what I want you to do—hold me accountable.”
• By removing Chairman Joyce Dorse-Coleman from the Shelby County Board of Education, we as the citizenry will be able to hold her accountable for her actions and the board would no longer have a majority voice required to proceed with the termination of the superintendent (Dr. Marie Feagins). 

If you are registered to vote within District 9, please consider the children and future of our community from all aspects and sign this petition. Even if this effort proves unsuccessful in her removal, we will send a message to Chairman Dorse-Coleman (plus other members of the board) that Memphians will not be silenced and it is the children who matter. Additionally, it sends a message of support to Dr. Feagins for the work she has continued to do for our community. Thank you.

Tenn. Code § 49-2-213​

Shelby County Board of Education Policy Manual​

MSCS Specially Called Meeting 12/17/24​

Chairman Joyce Dorse-Coleman Biography​

District 9 Map