{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Althea Greene ","chatgptsummary":"Bishop Althea E. Greene is highly suitable for the role of County School Board Division 2. She currently serves as the Chair of the Shelby County Board of Education and has extensive experience in education, having retired from Shelby County Schools after 38 years of service. She holds multiple degrees, including a Doctorate in Theology, and has received numerous awards for her contributions to education. Bishop Greene is also actively involved in her community, serving as the senior pastor of Real Life Ministries and being a member of several organizations. Her passion for teaching and leadership skills make her an excellent candidate for the role.","notes":"","party":"Nonpartisan","person":{"biography":"Althea Greene is a former member of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education, representing District 2. The Shelby County Commission appointed her to the seat on February 25, 2019, after 38 years as a classroom teacher at six Memphis-area schools; she retired from the district in 2018 [1][2]. She won the seat outright, unopposed, in the August 2020 general election [3].\n\n## Office history\nThe board elected Greene chair for the 2022-23 term on September 28, 2022, succeeding Michelle McKissack [3]. Board members retained her as chair for a second term on September 26, 2023, by a 7-0 vote (one member voted present) [4]. As chair, Greene oversaw the district's search for a permanent superintendent; after three finalists were presented in April 2023 she paused the search amid disagreement over the selection process, and several leading candidates subsequently withdrew. The board later restarted the search under revised requirements led by other members [4].\n\nGreene did not win re-election. In the August 1, 2024 election, challenger Natalie McKinney defeated Greene for the District 2 seat; Chalkbeat reported McKinney \"maintained a consistent lead over Greene that grew as the night went on.\" Greene said she would continue working \"for the students and families of the district\" [5]. McKinney, not Greene, is the current District 2 board member and chair.\n\n## Career\nBefore her school board service, Greene spent 38 years as an educator in Memphis-area public schools, teaching at six different schools, before retiring in 2018 [1]. She is also senior pastor of Real Life Ministries in Memphis [6].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Former Memphis teacher Althea Greene named interim school board member by county commission](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2019/2/25/21106889/former-memphis-teacher-althea-greene-named-interim-school-board-member-by-county-commission/) - Chalkbeat Tennessee, accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Althea Greene appointed to Shelby County Schools board](https://dailymemphian.com/article/3336/Althea-Greene-appointed-to-Shelby-County-Schools-board) - Daily Memphian, accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [Althea Greene is named new MSCS board chair at pivotal time](https://tn.chalkbeat.org/2022/9/28/23377321/memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-chair-althea-greene-covid-superintendent-search) - Chalkbeat Tennessee, accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [MSCS board again taps Althea Greene as chair](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2023/9/26/23891928/memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-chair-2023-althea-greene-joyce-dorse-coleman/) - Chalkbeat Tennessee, accessed 2026-07-06\n[5] [Memphis-Shelby County Schools election results: Challenger defeats board chair](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2024/08/01/memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-results-2024/) - Chalkbeat Tennessee, accessed 2026-07-06\n[6] [Real Life Ministries](http://www.reallifememphis.org/) - accessed 2026-07-06 (church site; confirms pastoral role)","firstname":"Althea","lastname":"","middlename":"Greene","suffix":null,"token":"AVqSfurMn8"},"token":"althea_greene"},{"candidatename":"Natalie McKinney","chatgptsummary":"Natalie McKinney is a highly suitable candidate for the County School Board Division 2 position. With 19 years of experience in Memphis, she has served as the Director of Policy and Legislative Planning at Memphis Shelby County Schools and co-founded Whole Child Strategies Inc. She holds a B.A. in Political Science, a J.D., and an M.P.A. from prestigious institutions. McKinney has a deep understanding of policy governing school and district operations, having worked with various stakeholders including youth, parents, teachers, and school leaders. She has also led work in neighborhoods to address out-of-school barriers. McKinney is committed to addressing critical issues such as academic preparedness, district infrastructure, safety, and fiscal sustainability. She pledges to remain student-centered, community-focused, and to support system transparency and leadership accountability.","notes":"","party":"Nonpartisan","person":{"biography":"I\u2019ve lived in Memphis for 19 years, serving as the Director of Policy and Legislative Planning at Memphis Shelby County Schools and co-founder of Whole Child Strategies Inc. I am a committed mother, wife, and active community leader, married to Dr. Charles W. McKinney, Jr., with two successful sons, Ayodele and Chioke, both graduates of Memphis Shelby County Public Schools.\n\nI hold a B.A. in Political Science from Spelman College, a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, and an M.P.A. from Princeton University. I\u2019ve advocated for youth throughout my career, including creating and serving as the inaugural director of the Juvenile Law Clinic at NCCU School of Law, where I advocated for youth justice, an effort recognized by the American Bar Association.\n\nBetween 2007 and 2017, I directed policy and legislative planning for both Shelby County and Memphis City Schools, leading during tahe largest school district merger in U.S. history. In 2017, recognizing the impact of external barriers on education, I founded Whole Child Strategies to address these challenges directly with the community. \n\n\nWith my experiences as the policy director working directly with youth, parents/guardians, teachers, school leaders, central office staff, the superintendent and school board, where I acquired the working knowledge of every aspect of policy governing school and district operations, e.g. academics, special education, ESL, business operations, facilities, safety and behavior, student supports, board governance, etc., and leading work in neighborhoods to support community-led/driven identification of and solutions to the root causes to out-of-school barriers hindering youth from getting to school, I have gained the knowledge and understanding of how things do and should operate for the benefit of youth.\n\nI am running for School Board District 2 to bring leadership that addresses critical issues, including academic preparedness, district infrastructure, safety, and fiscal sustainability. I pledge to remain student-centered and community-focused, and support system transparency and leadership accountability. Our schools can be a catalyst for positive change, and with your support, I will represent the voices of all community members.\n\nI am Natalie McKinney, and I want to be your next School Board representative.\n\nLinks:\n\n[Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-mckinney-919758147/)\n[Campaign Site](https://www.votenataliemckinney.com/)\n\n","firstname":"Natalie","lastname":"McKinney","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"WIyQS8Yysc"},"token":"natalie_mckinney"},{"candidatename":"Ernest Gillespie III","chatgptsummary":"Ernest Gillespie III's background and experience make him a suitable candidate for the County School Board Division 2 position. His professional history includes roles in education and community service, which align with the responsibilities of the role. His online presence suggests he is engaged with the community, which is crucial for representing their interests in the policymaking process. However, without specific details on his views on education policy or experience in budget management, a comprehensive assessment of his suitability cannot be made.","notes":"","party":"Nonpartisan","person":{"biography":"\nLinks:\nFacebook: [https://www.facebook.com/pearly.gate.507/](https://www.facebook.com/pearly.gate.507/)\n\nBallotpedia: [https://ballotpedia.org/Ernest_Gillespie_III](https://ballotpedia.org/Ernest_Gillespie_III)\n\nLinkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernest-gillespie-iii-8362605b/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernest-gillespie-iii-8362605b/)\n\n\n\n\n","firstname":"Ernest","lastname":"III","middlename":"Gillespie","suffix":null,"token":"X7V3BNg34a"},"token":"ernest_gillespie_iii"}],"choices":null,"description":"A Memphis Shelby County School Board member is responsible for representing the interests of the division's students, parents, and educators in the policymaking process. This role involves developing and implementing policies that enhance educational outcomes, overseeing the district's budget, and ensuring accountability in school administration. Additionally, the board member collaborates with other board members, community stakeholders, and educational leaders to address local educational needs and promote a high-quality learning environment. They are paid 20,000 a year, and meet at the Francis E. Coe Administration Building, 160 S. Hollywood Street, at 5:30 p.m. on the final Tuesday of each month.","district":"2","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"Shelby County School Board","districtname":"District 2","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_division_2","office":"county_school_board_division_2","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on a large urban district \u2014 Memphis-Shelby County Schools serves roughly 110,000 students across more than 200 schools, with a budget over a billion dollars.\n- Budget literacy for both operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the County Commission (which appropriates) and the Tennessee Department of Education.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 historically the highest-stakes recurring decision the board makes.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members across an economically and racially diverse district.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association School Board Academy.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County School Board Division 2","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County School Board Division 2"}