“Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free newsletter to keep up with statewide education policy and Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The Nashville-based leader of one of Tennessee’s most influential education advocacy organizations will soon have a significant role in guiding the state’s largest school district. David Mansouri, president and chief executive at Tennessee SCORE, has been appointed to the new nine-person oversight board that will seize control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools in a state-led takeover. House Speaker Cameron Sexton appointed Mansouri to the board on Tuesday, one of the speaker’s two appointees on the board. Sexton has not announced his final pick. Mansouri will be the only member of the new board who is not a Shelby County resident after Sexton negotiated for the opportunity to appoint a non-resident when Republicans passed the takeover legislation earlier this spring. “This is an opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the public education system and make certain it delivers what every student and family in Memphis deserves: a world-class education, strong outcomes, and a clear path to success,” Mansouri said in a statement to Chalkbeat. He joined SCORE soon after it was founded by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in 2009. The organization has significant influence with policy makers and is often credited for producing a roadmap f or school improvement when Tennessee schools ranked among the worst in the nation. The top elected Republicans in the state are appointing the new oversight board, which will control key district decisions for the next four years . Both Gov. Bill Lee and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announced their appointments in recent days. The oversight board also includes: Billy Orgel, a local developer and former Memphis-Shelby County school board member. Dedrick Brittenum Jr., a Memphis lawyer and former councilman. Shanea McKinney of Cigna, who is a member of the University of Tennessee’s board of trustees . Nisha Powers, who leads a Memphis civil engineering firm and has served on the Tennessee board of regents . Beverly Robertson, a marketing executive and former president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce. Tyrone Burroughs, a Memphis CEO who sits on the Tennessee Lottery Commission and the Youth Villages board of directors . Under the state takeover bill signed into law last week by Lee, the GOP-appointed board will have final say over MSCS’ budget and contracts over $50,000 , as well as the hiring and firing of the superintendent. The school board has signaled it may sue over the politically appointed takeover board, which will significantly dilute the authority of the locally elected board. Republican lawmakers have argued the oversight board does not amount to a state takeover of Tennessee’s largest school district, because the majority of the board will be local residents. However, the political appointees will serve at-will terms and can be removed and replaced at any time, for any reason. Lawmakers frequently pointed to a state takeover of Houston schools as a model for Memphis success. Bill sponsors hope to solve Memphis’ low academic achievement with the takeover. Last year, over 75% of Memphis students failed to achieve proficiency in reading and math. Still, the district earned the highest possible score in academic growth , or student improvement on state tests, for the fourth year in a row. One of the first responsibilities of the oversight board will be to conduct a comprehensive assessment of MSCS staff, students, and buildings to make a “transformation plan.” It’s unclear whether the new board will have any control over the 2026-27 budget, which is set for a final vote from the elected school board on Tuesday night. The oversight board can direct or prohibit the superintendent to take any action and can fire the school leader with cause if they refuse. It can require the same of local board members and act on behalf of the MSCS board if they refuse to follow instructions. Melissa Brown is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact Melissa at mbrown@chalkbeat.org .
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