Newly elected Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board Commissioner Tamarques Porter, representing District 4, is already focused and eager to get to work. Porter, along with three other new members—Natalie McKinney (District 2), Towanna Murphy (District 7), and Sable Otey (District 5)—was elected to the nine-member school board in the August 1 election. All four are set to be sworn in on August 29. The school system also welcomed a new superintendent, Dr. Marie Feagins, who began leading MSCS in April.
According to the MSCS website, the leadership team is responsible for guiding decision-making, policy development, and implementation for the district’s 106,000 students. The district includes more than 200 schools and employs 14,000 staff members, including over 6,000 teachers, making it the second-largest employer in Shelby County and the 23rd largest public school system in the nation. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, a $1.8 billion budget was approved in June.
Porter is prepared to dive into his role and gained valuable insights while on the campaign trail. “People still care. You just have to give them [the right] person and ideas to vote for,” Porter said. He emphasized that people are looking for change and that successful candidates must embody the change voters seek. Reflecting on his recent experience, Porter noted, “I just turned 40 years old, I have children in school, and the parents I met could relate to me.” He also highlighted the frustration among community members who felt ignored and called for rapid change, advocating for increased collaboration with the city council and county commission to allocate more resources to classrooms. Porter stressed the importance of supporting parents, many of whom work multiple jobs and may struggle to find time to engage with their children’s education. He advocated for greater promotion of programs that can offer support and assistance to these families.
An example of the challenges facing MSCS is evident at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, where a $2.3 million state-of-the-art STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) center has been stalled due to a lack of properly allocated funding from MSCS. According to a report by WREG-NewsChannel 3, Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. noted that while the project is a $10 million endeavor, MSCS’s $2.3 million commitment is currently missing. “We’re talking about a $10 million building,” Ford stated. “All the school system has to do is honor $2.3 million.” Porter is determined to see the project through to completion, expressing his desire for every community in Memphis to have a STEM school. He acknowledged that while the district has some STEM capabilities, there is a need to enhance and expand these opportunities for more children.
As a commissioner, Porter has outlined his core objectives, which include boosting student achievement, supporting teachers by advocating for professional development and fair compensation, addressing disparities, promoting inclusive education, engaging parents and the community, and prioritizing transparent and effective budgeting.
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