Statement from Dr. Richmond
The work we do at Memphis-Shelby County Schools is critically important for the future of our students, and for me, it’s more than just a job or a passion. It’s personal. And, Greatness Grows Here isn’t simply a slogan. It’s a belief system. To work here, you must understand that every student you encounter has the potential to be the next MSCS superintendent, architect of our next school building, creator of the newest invention, teacher in our classrooms or the protector/nurturer of his or her family.
My mother raised me right here in this school system. I’m a proud graduate of Trezevant High School, and the same building I attended is still home to students today. The building, which is one of our younger ones, is nearly 50 years old, with little structural differences from the school I attended decades ago. I love and have wonderful memories of that and many other buildings in our district. However, to maximize student growth, we must minimize our attachment to bricks and mortar. Instead, let’s work together to create learning environments that are most conducive to the development of our future leaders
Our reality is that our students are doing their part by coming to school ready to learn. We must collectively do our part by providing each one with a place to help them nurture their learning. That means the history of some MSCS schools will transform into a new community center, similar to the former Hamilton High; a new charter school, like the former Gordon Elementary; or a new library, like the former Melrose High. Not only does repurposing underused buildings improve community opportunities, but it also reduces district costs that can be redirected to our more modern and technologically advanced schools and classrooms.
We’ve discussed these potential changes before, but now it is time to move beyond discussion and create a Blueprint for Greatness, initiating the construction process of a new Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which inevitably means a new Memphis.
Greatness does grow here in our school system and our city. Let’s nurture that growth by supporting our board and district leadership in our effort to provide our students with the education they deserve.