Shelby County mayoral candidate Marie Feagins has filed a new lawsuit against her former employer, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, alleging sexual discrimination and retaliation, according to documents filed in federal court Wednesday, March 18.
The former Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent is seeking $487,500 in severance pay, along with compensatory and punitive damages. A separate lawsuit is currently under consideration in Shelby County Circuit Court.
According to the federal filing, Feagins claims male counterparts in similar circumstances were treated “more favorably despite documented and investigated misconduct.” She is represented by Birmingham-based attorney Johnathan F. Austin.
Feagins’ predecessor, Joris Ray, resigned in 2022 during an ongoing investigation into accusations of abuse of power and policy violations. Ray, a career Memphis educator, received a $480,000 severance package that included 18 months of pay.
The suit contends Feagins’ circumstances are similar to those of former MSCS Deputy Superintendent John Barker.
In 2022, Barker was placed on leave after an internal investigation over a complaint of sex- and race-based harassment. Although the probe concluded without evidence of wrongdoing, the head of Strategic Operations and Finance opted to retire and pursue other opportunities.
“Dr. Feagins alleges that she was treated differently because of her sex and in retaliation for protected activity, and that similarly situated male executives were treated more favorably in circumstances where district policies were violated and investigated — including being permitted to resign, remain employed, and/or negotiate exit terms not offered to her,” the complaint read.
The suit also contends that the damage to Feagins’ reputation harmed her future employment opportunities. The “stigmatizing allegations” included claims of a “sexualized nature, financial mismanagement, and other accusations impugning [her] honesty and integrity.”
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission approved the lawsuit. The federal agency, which enforces laws prohibiting workplace discrimination, determined Feagins has a “right to sue” after she filed a complaint.
Feagins was terminated by a 6-3 vote Jan. 21, 2025. The former Detroit public schools administrator was accused of several violations, including misleading board members about $1 million in paid overtime, accepting unapproved donations, grant mismanagement, and failures in leadership and communication.
She had been hired the previous April. Six of the nine-member board are women, and five voted for her dismissal.
However, the suit singles out one board member. It accuses Towanna Murphy of “criminal conduct including accusations involving vehicle theft, forgery, stalking, harassment, and credentials fraud.”
