Shelby County Schools Superintendent Resigns After Allegations Of Abuse Of Power
Image Credit: Memphis-Shelby County Schools – MSCS / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray tendered his resignation earlier this week after an investigation was opened by an outside attorney, alleging that Ray abused his power and violated the policies of the state’s largest school district.
According to a press release, the resignation was accepted by the Shelby County School Board in a special meeting Tuesday night. Ray was appointed to serve as superintendent in 2019 and had worked for the district for almost 25 years.
***Click HERE to support Conservative Journalism in Tennessee. We can’t cover stories like this without your support!***
The board had already suspended Ray after an investigation was started by U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III, due to allegations made during Ray’s divorce proceedings from his wife, who is also an employee of the district.
The board resolution stated that they took those steps “to review the allegations to determine whether Superintendent Ray, during his tenure as Superintendent, engaged in relationships with District employees violative of MSCS policies.”
Ray tweeted, thanking his colleagues for “many, many small but powerful acts of devotion and commitment.”
“I’m deeply grateful to have had the honor to lead the very school district where I was nurtured and educated by loving and compassionate teachers,” he continued.
The district stated that Ray successfully led the district through the COVID-19 pandemic and also helped bring about gains on the state TCAP tests.
Ray’s position has been temporarily filled by two deputy superintendents while the board makes plans to find the district’s next superintendent.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
