Judge Denies Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent’s Request to be Reinstated
Dr. Marie Feagins (Photo by Memphis-Shelby County Schools)
Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ bid to be reinstated is off, at least for now.
On Friday, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Robert Childers issued an order denying Feagins’ request for a preliminary injunction of her controversial termination. The Memphis-Shelby County School board voted to oust Feagins from her job last January on allegations of accepting donations without board approval, mismanaging district funds, and misleading the public about overtime wages.
Feagins filed a lawsuit the following month, accusing board members of violating state open meetings laws by holding closed-door discussions to plot her removal. Feagins later filed additional motions seeking reinstatement for the remainder of her contract
Judge Childers ruled that the circumstances of the case don’t merit that action or the “further disruption to the administration of the school system” that reinstating Feagins would create. Despite the setback, the former superintendent may find some positives in Childers’ ruling, as the judge found evidence that Feagins might be reinstated when the Court holds a full hearing on her case at a later date.
“Based on the proof presented by the Plaintiff at the injunction hearing, the Court finds that there is certainly a chance that the Plaintiff can succeed on the merits after a full evidentiary hearing, but there is not enough proof at this juncture to find that the Plaintiff is likely to prevail after a full evidentiary hearing,” wrote Judge Childers.
Feagins’ Short Tenure
Board members initially hired Dr. Feagins in 2024 after a turbulent search process that lasted more than a year. Feagins’ relationship with multiple board members soon soured following backlash over a plan to restructure more than 1,000 positions and criticism about communication relating to threats against schools.
Her termination ignited pushback from community groups and state lawmakers who considered legislation for state intervention into the district.
Dr. Roderick Richmond has been serving Memphis-Shelby County Schools as interim superintendent since Feagins’ removal.
