MSCS leader proposes to boost teacher salaries during state of district address

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Interim Superintendent Tutonial "Toni" Williams on Tuesday touted a plan to "invest an additional $27.3 million in teacher salaries" in a wide-ranging speech that touched on safety, academics and the power of education to create generational success.

Williams' comments came during the annual state-of-the-district address at the MSCS Teacher and Learning Academy on Union Ave. The increased teacher pay, which would require MSCS board approval, would help the district cope with the national teacher shortage, Williams said.

"In our recent meeting with the district teacher advisory council we discussed decreasing teacher workload....increasing teacher compensation, creating a culture of celebration, which is about what this is about today," Williams said in the address. "It's not about a person, it's not about me. It's about a culture of celebrating the work that we have to do, and enhancing retention strategies."

Williams also detailed the district's College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) program, dubbed "Teaching as a Profession," that aims to help train high school students to be future teachers. With the River City Partnership, some MSCS graduates will receive a scholarship from the University of Memphis College of Education to get their degrees and teaching certificates to return to teach at MSCS.

Williams' address, which was themed "Triumphant Together," looked to move away from "Reimagining 901," referencing the district's larger strategy in the last few years, to "Transforming 901."

"Let's have three common themes, so when we leave out of here we understand what Memphis-Shelby County Schools is about in this moment: Safety, everybody wants safety, respect and academics," Williams said.

The path forward in academics, Williams said, is focusing on attendance, pre-K expansion, literacy commitments, extended learning, improved supports for English language learners, the CCTE program and workforce development.

In September 2022, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis said she and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland met with Williams about truancy and that the city and school district could come up with a "strategic plan to move forward." At the address, Williams pointed to improved attendance messages that would connect parents to resources when they are messaged that their student has missed class. Williams also pointed to partnerships with juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, nothing there are legal consequences for non-attendance.

"And I want to say partnership, because even in juvenile court and DA Mulroy's office, they're even helping in the community and with our students by mentoring, (doing) lunch led-programs (and) even sponsored career fairs," Williams said.

The Tuesday speech was Williams' first state-of-the-district address. She was the district’s chief financial officer until August when she was appointed interim superintendent following the resignation of Joris Ray. Ray resigned amid an investigation into allegations that he abused his power and violated district policies. The school board is planning to narrow the search for a new superintendent in the next month. For now, it is unclear if Williams is a candidate for the permanent job.

"Multiple generations of my family have graduated from public schools," Williams said. "These very public schools. My parents pushed me to achieve education, even further than they achieved. Because of them, I became a first-generation college graduate. As I look around this room, we share the same stories. Many of us share the same stories. I am inspired, with our school district, by the endless opportunities I see for each and every one of our students. I believe in this school district and because of this school district we create a pipeline for generational success."

Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901/232-6714.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MSCS looks at teacher salaries at annual state of the district address