Gov. Bill Lee taps former superintendent, UT trustee for Memphis schools takeover board

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced five appointees to a new oversight board for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), the state’s largest district, following the passage of legislation granting the board sweeping authority. The board, which will operate for four years, includes Dorsey Hopson, the former Memphis superintendent (2013–2019) and now a partner at the City Fund, an organization promoting school choice and charter expansion. Other appointees are Shanea McKinney, a UT board of trustees member and Cigna executive; Nisha Powers, a civil engineering firm leader and Tennessee board of regents member; Beverly Robertson, a former Greater Memphis Chamber CEO; and Tyrone Burroughs, a Memphis CEO serving on the Tennessee Lottery Commission and Youth Villages board. The oversight board will have near-total control over district operations, including teacher evaluations, curriculum reviews, the operating budget, and the superintendent’s contract. It can also block the Shelby County Commission from approving MSCS’s annual budget without its approval. The board’s authority extends to reviewing district records and making financial decisions, marking a significant shift in governance for the district. The board must begin work by July 1 under the new law, with Lee’s five appointees joining two each from Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, both Republicans. Eight of the nine members must reside in Shelby County, though Sexton secured an exception allowing one non-resident state resident to serve. Political leaders retain the power to remove or replace board members at any time. McNally’s spokesperson indicated his appointments would be announced soon. The oversight structure reflects ongoing efforts to reform Tennessee’s largest school district, with the board’s decisions carrying significant weight over the next four years.