Written By JR Robinson

If you pay any attention to the current state of the Memphis school system, it is easy to feel frustrated. We watch school board meetings that look more like political theater than educational leadership. We hear politicians recite the same tired soundbites about "putting kids first," yet we continue to see unacceptable reading levels, behavioral crises, and a system that feels fundamentally disconnected from the actual needs of our students.

Memphis is tired of politicians who use the school board as a stepping stone. We don't need another speech. We need a fixer. We need someone who has actually done the work.

Enter Dr. Tamara Jordan.

Dr. Jordan is not a career politician looking for a soft landing. She is a Doctor of Education, a proven turnaround principal, and a relentless advocate for youth development. With 15 years of hard-fought experience in the educational trenches, she is stepping up to run for the Memphis School Board because she knows exactly what it takes to turn a failing system around.

"I am a servant leader," Dr. Jordan says. "I have a growth mindset, and I promote positive change in organizations. But most importantly, I am an educator who is passionate about youth development and academic achievement. Our babies are our future, and we cannot afford to under-educate them."

A Resume Built in the Trenches

When it comes to educational leadership, Dr. Jordan’s resume speaks with undeniable authority. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Memphis, a Master's degree and an MBA from Christian Brothers University, and a Doctorate in Education.

But her true expertise wasn't just earned in a university lecture hall—it was forged in the classrooms and hallways of Memphis schools. Over the last 15 years, Dr. Jordan has done it all. She has served as a teacher, an instructional coach, a dean, an assistant principal, and a school principal. She has worked at Power Center, Freedom Prep, HPA, and KIPP Memphis.

She hasn't just managed schools; she has transformed them.

"I ran a school that was 0.2 points away from being the number one school," Dr. Jordan recalls. "When I entered, it was a Level 1 school, and I helped turn it around to a Level 5 school."

That is the exact kind of empirical, results-driven leadership that the Memphis School Board desperately lacks. While current board members argue over political optics, Dr. Jordan knows how to actually move the needle on student proficiency. She understands that turning a school around requires more than just hope; it requires rigorous data analysis, strong Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) systems, and a culture that demands excellence from both students and staff.

The Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore

Dr. Jordan is clear-eyed about the massive challenges facing Memphis schools. She points to the devastating reality that roughly 75% of students are not reading on grade level.

"That is just irritating, and it’s unfortunate, because this is their future," Dr. Jordan says with the urgency of a teacher who sees the human cost behind the statistics. "We know that if students are not comfortable in school, or if they don't know the material, they most likely resort to negative behavior, or they drop out. And that directly reflects the crime rate that we have in the city."

In Memphis, the link between educational failure and juvenile crime is undeniable. When the school system fails to equip a child with the ability to read, reason, and succeed, the streets are all too eager to provide an alternative education. According to local statistics, communities with high dropout rates consistently struggle with higher rates of poverty and crime. Dr. Jordan recognizes that fixing the school system isn't just an educational imperative; it is a public safety imperative.

"If you don't know why you are doing something, your motivation to do it is pretty weak," she explains. "We have to ensure that education has a purpose."

Bridging the Gap: Education and Purpose

What makes Dr. Jordan’s platform so unique is her holistic approach to student development. She understands that academic proficiency is only half the battle. A student can pass a math test, but if they lack soft skills, emotional intelligence, and a sense of personal purpose, they will struggle to navigate the real world.

That is why Dr. Jordan founded Memphis Women Aiming High Incorporated (MWAH, Inc.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing young women to be better for tomorrow.

Through her nonprofit work, Dr. Jordan focuses on the critical life skills that are often overlooked in standard curriculums: purpose, self-worth, soft skills, and community support. Her mentees are taught to understand who they are as people and are encouraged to turn around and mentor other young ladies, creating a powerful cycle of empowerment.

"We have to invest in our kids because these are the people that are going to be living next door to us. They are the ones who will have to take care of us. They are going to be running the city," Dr. Jordan notes. "We want to invest now so that we won't have a broken system in the future."

By bridging her rigorous academic background with her deep commitment to personal development, Dr. Jordan offers a comprehensive vision for Memphis students. She wants to ensure that every child who graduates from a Memphis high school doesn't just have a diploma, but has a clear understanding of their own potential and the soft skills required to secure a job, buy a home, and build a stable family.

A New Standard of Professionalism

Beyond her policies, Dr. Jordan represents a desperate need for a return to professionalism on the Memphis School Board. Recent board meetings have been marred by infighting, disrespect, and a shocking lack of decorum. This toxic environment distracts from the vital work of educating children and embarrasses the city on a public stage.

When voters see the "Dr." in front of Tamara Jordan's name, they should know exactly what it stands for: integrity, education, and an unwavering commitment to decorum. She is running to elevate the standard of leadership. Memphis voters deserve a board member who will review the curriculum, audit the incentive programs, ask the tough questions, and conduct the people's business with the dignity the office demands.

"On day one, I would need to address the curriculum. What programs do we have in place? From literacy to incentive programs," Dr. Jordan outlines. "Because I am an incentive-driven person. I built my schools off incentives. Students always got something for doing something right."

She understands the science behind student motivation. Her own doctoral dissertation focused on how schools with strong PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) systems significantly outperform those without them. She doesn't just want to punish bad behavior; she wants to strategically incentivize greatness.

The Choice for Memphis

The upcoming school board election is a defining moment for Memphis. We can choose to maintain the status quo—continuing to elect politicians who offer empty platitudes while reading scores plummet and behavioral issues rise. Or, we can choose to elect an expert.

We can choose a Level 5 turnaround principal. We can choose a Doctor of Education who has actually done the work. We can choose a community leader who runs a nonprofit dedicated to empowering our youth.

We can choose Dr. Tamara Jordan.

"I love my city, I love the youth, and I want to see us do better as a community," Dr. Jordan says. "And doing better starts with education. It starts with passionate people who really care."

It is time to take the politics out of the boardroom and put the educators back in charge. It is time for Dr. Tamara Jordan.