The Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, or MSCEA, is a pivotal organization within the Shelby County Schools system, representing a diverse array of professionals dedicated to education.
With more than 3,000 members, MSCEA brings together teachers, mental health employees, education support professionals, and other educators to advocate for the betterment of public education.
Currently under the leadership of Dr. Anntriniece Napper, the educator’s union seeks to foster a collaborative approach to improve the quality of education in the Memphis-Shelby County area.
“The Memphis-Shelby County Education Association was one of the first unions formed over 40 years ago,” she said.
Dr. Napper, a seasoned educator, and leader, emphasizes the organization’s mission to advocate for teacher’s benefits, including things like insurance and compensation, and to work to improve the school system as a whole. As schools began to open in the Mid-South, teachers and administrators are gearing up for a successful school year.
One concern that teachers hope to address and improve is testing scores. After a significant decline in standardized testing scores during the pandemic, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) has seen a steady increase in performance, yet, these scores are still far from where educators believe they should be.
One key figure in addressing these issues is Dr. Marie Feagins, now in her first full academic year as MSCS Superintendent. Since taking over in April, Feagins has made several changes that she believes will help in the classroom. These are changes that educators like Dr. Napper deem necessary.
“I support Dr. Feagins because she had to make changes that would benefit the students, ” said Dr. Napper. “She wanted more resources in the schools for the students, she wanted less people in the Central Office, and she wanted more people in the schools.
“Some of the people in the Central Office needed to be in the schools — literacy coaches, math coaches, science or social studies coaches — they needed to be in the schools helping the teachers and helping the students,” Napper continued. “So the things that she has done I agree with her.”
In 2023, only 23.62% of third-grade students were at or above proficient levels in ELA. While the percentage increased to 26.6% in 2024, there is still an urgent need for targeted interventions and support. This is an issue that Dr. Napper believes could be the direct result of the testing practices within the district.
“They’re testing our kids too much,” said Napper. “They’re tested so much that teachers don’t even have an opportunity to be creative with different lesson plans.”
This extensive testing starts as early as kindergarten, which Napper says is problematic for many reasons. When students enter Kindergarten, they are still learning simple things like fine motor skills, and they are expected to test like older children.
“I taught kindergarten, and right before the pandemic they wanted my kids to test when they don’t even know how to hold a pencil,” said Dr. Napper.
To address these challenges, Dr. Napper suggests aligning the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) standards with those of TN Ready, ensuring a more coherent testing framework.
“It’s not fair to our students,” she said. “First, they’re doing the TNReady practice, then you give them the TCAP, and those TCAP standards do not align with the TN Ready standards, so how can the kids do well if the standards are not aligned?”
Napper stresses the importance of early childhood education. This is essential for children to be adequately prepared to enter the school system.
“Pre-K is a very important part of a student’s academic career, so I feel every child should have the opportunity to go to Pre-K.
Napper also advocates for programs to educate parents on early childhood development.
“Maybe some of the parents do not know the steps to take when the kids are babies from maybe eight months until they go to school, and maybe they need to have some programs to help the young parents with their kids before they come to school.”
As the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association continues to champion the interests of educators and students, it remains a vital voice in the ongoing dialogue about the future of public education in Shelby County. Through its advocacy and collaboration, the organization is poised to make significant strides in enhancing the educational landscape, ensuring that both educators and students have the support they need to succeed amidst these ongoing challenges.
