{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"T. L. Harris","chatgptsummary":"Harris holds an LSU MBA candidate status and serves as managing partner of Whitehaven Family Healthcare, providing direct experience in organizational management and financial oversight relevant to budget literacy for the district\u2019s billion-dollar operating funds. As a Memphis-Shelby County Schools alumnus and long-time Whitehaven resident, he possesses deep local ties essential for constituent relations across the economically diverse district. His leadership of a youth violence prevention program demonstrates community engagement skills applicable to parent and teacher outreach.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Candidate for Memphis-Shelby County School Board, District 6 in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n\n- One of five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat held by former teachers union leader Keith Williams since 2022. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n- Campaign site: [voteharris901.com](https://voteharris901.com/)\n- Signature initiative is \"The Third Grade Standard,\" aiming to increase third-grade reading proficiency by 10% within two academic years. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n- Endorsed by the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, labor union Memphis AFSCME Local 1733, and city council member Pearl Eva Walker. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/past-cocaine-conviction-a-campaign-smear-says-school-board-candidate/))\n\n## Background and education\n- Product of Memphis\u2013Shelby County Schools. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n- LeMoyne-Owen College alumnus. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n- University of Memphis Political Science graduate. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n- LSU MBA Candidate, Class of 2027. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n\n## Career\n- Healthcare executive and Managing Partner of Whitehaven Family Healthcare (also referred to as Walhaven Family Healthcare or Memphis Family Healthcare). ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/); [Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/past-cocaine-conviction-a-campaign-smear-says-school-board-candidate/))\n- 2024 Leaders of Color Graduate. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n\n## Office history\n- Served as a Memphis police officer two decades ago. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/past-cocaine-conviction-a-campaign-smear-says-school-board-candidate/))\n- Led a youth violence prevention program for three years. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n- Pleaded guilty in 2006 to attempting to possess with the intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine while serving as a city police officer. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/past-cocaine-conviction-a-campaign-smear-says-school-board-candidate/))\n- Sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and 60 months on supervised release; supervised release was terminated early in 2013. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/past-cocaine-conviction-a-campaign-smear-says-school-board-candidate/))\n- Qualified to run for office after having his civil rights restored in a local court. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/past-cocaine-conviction-a-campaign-smear-says-school-board-candidate/))\n\n\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [School Board (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=HARRIS&id=103879&f=201007&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n\n## Family\n- 30+ year Whitehaven resident. ([Campaign Site](https://voteharris901.com/))\n","firstname":"T.","lastname":"Harris","middlename":"L.","suffix":null,"token":"8mn7tjtyxC"},"token":"t_l_harris"},{"candidatename":"Contessa Humphrey","chatgptsummary":"The candidate is a Democratic primary contender for District 6, challenging incumbent Keith Williams in the May 2026 election. She participated in a Greater Memphis Chamber video series but did not respond to Chalkbeat\u2019s survey regarding her platform or background. Consequently, the biography provides no evidence of policy judgment on the district\u2019s scale, budget literacy, superintendent evaluation experience, or constituent relations history. Bio does not indicate prior public service, educational background, career experience, or completion of state-required training.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"Contessa Humphrey is a Democratic candidate running for the Memphis-Shelby County School Board District 6 seat in Shelby County, Tennessee [7]. She is seeking to fill the position currently held by incumbent Keith Williams, who is not running for re-election [8]. The race involves selecting a Democratic nominee in a primary election on May 5, 2026, with the winner facing independent candidate Frederick Dewayne Tappan in the general election on August 6, 2026 [7].\n\nHumphrey is one of five Democrats vying for the nomination in District 6, a district covering approximately 28 schools and 12,000 students in Southwest Memphis, including Whitehaven High School and Havenview Middle School [8]. The district has a student population that is more than 95% Black, with nearly 70% of students considered economically disadvantaged [8]. Students in the district test slightly below the districtwide averages on state reading and math proficiency tests [8].\n\nWhile other candidates in the race have detailed their backgrounds\u2014such as Marinda A-Williams, a former teacher and state party official, or Juliette Eskridge, a 20-year MSCS teacher\u2014Humphrey did not respond to Chalkbeat\u2019s candidate survey [8]. Her full name is listed as Contessa Glorianna Humphrey in the initial candidate list provided by the Shelby County Election Commission [10]. She participated in a candidate video series hosted by the Greater Memphis Chamber to present her priorities and vision for public education to voters [12].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_gubernatorial_election,_2026)\n- [2] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [3] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [4] [Elections Calendar | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/calendar)\n- [5] [2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election)\n- [7] [Voter guide: Here are the Democratic Memphis school board candidates running in District 6 - Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/61985)\n- [8] [Memphis school board election 2026: Who are the Democratic candidates in District 6?](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/)\n- [10] [Meet the Memphis school board candidates on your 2026 ballot](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/02/23/memphis-2026-partisan-primary-draws-no-republican-candidates/)\n- [11] [Voter Guide 2026 | Everything you need to know about primary elections in Shelby County | localmemphis.com](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/voter-guide-2026-primary-elections-in-shelby-county/522-614cfd53-f537-47a3-94d8-9adaf052f47e)\n- [12] [Meet the Candidates: Memphis-Shelby County School Board District 6 - Greater Memphis Chamber](https://memphischamber.com/blog/general/meet-the-candidates-school-board-district-6/)","firstname":"Contessa","lastname":"Humphrey","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"r6STMNe0Ou"},"token":"contessa_humphrey"},{"candidatename":"Juliette Eskridge","chatgptsummary":"The candidate taught in Memphis-Shelby County Schools for approximately twenty years, holding roles as a teacher and project manager at Hamilton Elementary and Mitchell High. This extensive tenure provides direct insight into district operations across multiple schools. Currently working with Project STAND, a school-based mentoring program for at-risk students within MSCS, the candidate engages with community support systems relevant to constituent relations. The biography confirms participation in the Democratic primary for District 6 but offers no details on budget literacy, superintendent evaluation experience, or prior public service roles.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- None listed; running for Shelby County Board of Education, District 6. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n\n- Candidate in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n- The winner of the primary will face independent candidate Frederick Dewayne Tappan in the August 6 general election. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n\n## Background and education\n- No educational background details provided in sources.\n\n## Career\n- Taught in Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) for around 20 years, serving as a teacher and project manager for multiple schools including Hamilton Elementary and Mitchell High. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n- Works at Project STAND, a school-based mentoring program for at-risk students established in 2017 that operates in MSCS. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\nNo statement of interest filing found as of 2026-04-25. Search the [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm).\n\n## Family\n- No family details provided in sources.\n","firstname":"Juliette","lastname":"Eskridge","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"LptUIjUTXB"},"token":"juliette_eskridge"},{"candidatename":"Marinda A-Williams","chatgptsummary":"Former teacher in Germantown and private schools provides direct classroom perspective on literacy instruction and curriculum alignment. Prior service on the Tennessee Democratic State Executive Committee demonstrates experience setting organizational policy goals at age twenty-three. Campaign platform emphasizes collaborative governance to delay state takeover, advocating for evidence-based early reading strategies and expanded career technical education to improve attendance. She supports strict financial transparency and contract oversight at the board level, addressing budget accountability concerns.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMarinda A-Williams is a candidate for the Memphis-Shelby County School Board, District 6 [1]. She is one of five candidates in the Democratic primary for the seat held by Keith Williams [1]. She participated in a candidate video series hosted by the Greater Memphis Chamber [2].\n\nA-Williams advocates for a collaborative governance model that allows newly elected leadership to demonstrate improvement before any potential state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools [1]. She prioritizes evidence-based literacy instruction in early grades, expanding tutoring, and aligning curriculum with learning science [1]. She supports strong financial transparency and contract oversight at the board level and believes the district should expand career and technical education programs to boost student attendance [1].\n\n## Background and education\nA-Williams previously worked as a teacher assistant and educator in local private schools and as a teacher in the Germantown suburban school district [1].\n\n## Office history\nA-Williams previously represented Memphis on the Tennessee Democratic State Executive Committee at age 23, where she set policies and goals for local parties [1]. She ran for Memphis City Council in 2019 but did not win [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Chalkbeat Tennessee](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/)\n[2] [Greater Memphis Chamber](https://memphischamber.com/blog/general/meet-the-candidates-school-board-district-6/)\n\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n","firstname":"Marinda","lastname":"A-Williams","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ItusF60l1M"},"token":"marinda_a_williams"},{"candidatename":"Stacey Kelly","chatgptsummary":"The candidate\u2019s fifteen years in corporate banking operations and reconcilement provide direct evidence of budget literacy for operating funds. Experience as a financial coordinator teaching financial literacy to students suggests capacity for constituent relations with parents and educators. Current work as a college advisor for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission indicates ongoing engagement with educational policy and student outcomes. A Bachelor of Science in Administration and Management supports foundational knowledge for policy judgment within a large urban district context.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Candidate for Memphis-Shelby County School Board District 6 in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n\n- One of five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat, which is currently held by Keith Williams. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n- Works as a college advisor for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. ([Chalkbeat](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-6/))\n- Holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration and Management from Christian Brothers University. ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n- Is completing a Master\u2019s in Science and Leadership, with graduation scheduled for the week of the primary election. ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n- Has 15 years of experience in corporate banking, working in reconcilement, research, and operations. ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n- Previously worked as a financial assistant and coordinator with Rise Foundation (Rise Memphis), teaching financial literacy to students in grades 5 through 12. ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n\n## Background and education\n- B.S. in Administration and Management, Christian Brothers University. ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n- M.S. in Science and Leadership (in progress). ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n\n## Office history\n- No prior elected office listed in sources; described as a \"private citizen\" and a \"14th-year veteran of working within the school system.\" ([JustMyMemphis](https://www.justmymemphis.com/view-post/3787))\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [School Board (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=KELLY&id=103885&f=198761&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n\n## Family\n- No family information provided in sources.\n\n\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n","firstname":"Stacey","lastname":"Kelly","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"aWroISpg8Y"},"token":"stacey_kelly"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"6","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"Shelby County School Board","districtname":"District 6","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_division_6","office":"county_school_board_division_6","officedescription":"Members of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board of Education are elected from nine districts covering all of Shelby County. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts district policies, reviews and approves the school-district budget, and sets the district's goals. Board members are elected officials, not district employees; as of 2025 they are limited to two consecutive four-year terms. Regular business meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at the Frances E. Coe Administration Building, with a preceding work session.\n\n**Compensation:** members receive a per-meeting stipend set by county government; state law requires a minimum of $4/day ([T.C.A. \u00a7 49-2-202](https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-49/chapter-2/part-2/section-49-2-202/)).","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 6","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County School Board District 6"}