Five candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for the Memphis-Shelby County School Board District 6 seat in Tuesday’s state and county primary. The Tennessee Firefly has put together a breakdown of their qualifications, experience, and goals if elected.¶
District 6 is currently represented by Keith Williams, who has held the seat since 2022. All five candidates will be on the ballot for the May 5 primary election, and the winner will face independent candidate Frederick Dewayne Tappan in the general election on August 6.¶
Stacey Kelly
Stacey Kelly spent 14 years as a third-party partner with Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) and previously served as a project manager for RISE Memphis and as a college advisor at her alma mater, Overton High School.¶
“I am committed to bringing positive change, promoting academic excellence, and ensuring every child receives a quality education,” Kelly said in a Facebook post announcing her candidacy.¶
In an interview with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Kelly said she is completing her Master of Science degree in Leadership from Austin Peay State University and will graduate this Friday, May 8. She believes this, and her extensive experience working with MSCS positions her well for a role that bridges the gap between the school board, the community, and its students.¶
“I know that the job for the school board is to plan the policies and to work to be the direct report for the superintendent and to do the budgeting, but it's also responsibility of the school board for people to receive the transparency they need and to also have that trust within the school board that they are doing what's best for not only the students, (but also) the faculty, the staff, the administration, and the community,” Kelly said in the interview.¶
Marinda A-Williams
Marinda A-Williams is no stranger to policymaking. A former private school educator, she sat on the Democratic State Executive Committee at age 23, representing Memphis. She joined the race relatively late, announcing her candidacy on March 27 in a Facebook post.¶
“We need representation that can protect our students, families, and community, and that means leaders who understand the law, policy, and how to hold systems accountable,” A-Williams said in the post. “I’ve been out in the community listening, learning, and hearing your concerns firsthand. Our children are the future workforce of this city and county, and we cannot afford to fail them. I have an emergency literacy plan to help turn this district AROUND, and with your support, we can make it happen.”¶
A-Williams believes there is a middle ground between state intervention and the board’s solitary local control amid the state’s audit of the district.¶
In an interview with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, A-Williams highlighted the need for open communication between the board and the business community to support students with resources and more options for their futures.¶
“It's important for us, for teachers, for adults, for liaisons, to support students in the classroom, providing them (with) technical skills, which is going back to that open communication between the Chamber of Commerce and school board,” A-Williams said. “I think there's an open pipeline there.”¶
T.L. Harris
T.L. Harris has arguably the most non-traditional backstory of any MSCS board candidate. He was raised in North Memphis by his grandmother, and after serving in the Navy, he became a police officer. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to a single count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison and 60 months of supervised release, which was terminated early in 2013.¶
“I have owned that since the day I (came) home, and it has been my mission since I've come home to use my conviction as a gateway to these young individuals in the streets,” Harris said in a video on his Facebook page.¶
Since then, he has served as a case manager for various organizations. He says that wouldn’t have been possible had he not been taken in by a teacher in 10th grade, when he could not read at grade level. Part of his platform includes increasing third-grade reading proficiency by 10 percent within two academic years of taking office and expanding structured literacy practices across all K-3 classrooms.¶
Contessa Humphrey
Contessa Humphrey, like Harris, is running on a platform that champions literacy. She served in the Memphis Literacy Corps after graduating high school before majoring in Education at Lemoyne-Owen College, where she also served on the Student Government Association board. Since then, she has collaborated with Reading Works, Renaissance Accelerated Reader, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.¶
“What makes me well-suited is my educational experience, literacy, advocacy, my leadership training, my community roots, and my student focused vision,” Humphrey said in an interview with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce.¶
Currently, she is a caregiver for her mother, whom she calls her “cheerleader.” Her campaign focuses on what she calls the “Three Cs: Children-Centered, Community-Driven, and Credible Leadership.¶
Juliette Eskridge
Juliette Eskridge announced on Facebook in February that she was running for the MSCS District 6 seat by highlighting her history in Shelby County as a teacher and mentor. She has taught at Hamilton Elementary School and Mitchell High School.¶
“I’ve helped connect students to internships, supported families through challenges, and partnered with local organizations to bring resources directly into our neighborhoods,” Eskridge said in the post. “I’m running for School Board District 6 because I believe our schools should feel supported, our parents should feel heard, and every child should feel seen. I’m running to be present.”¶
Eskridge is running on a platform that advocates for MSCS students during the state’s intervention into the district’s operations. She currently works at Project STAND, which mentors at-risk students in MSCS.¶
