Written By: Dr. Tamara Jordan

When I walk into a school building, I don’t just see a facility or a line item in a budget. I hear the "heartbeat" of the classroom. I hear the sound of a teacher trying to reach a student who hasn’t had breakfast. I see the instructional coach working to bridge a literacy gap that started years prior. I feel the weight on a principal’s shoulders as they balance safety, state mandates, and academic growth.

For 15 years, I have lived that reality. I have been the teacher, the coach, the dean, and the principal. I have led a campus to a #3 ranking out of 278 schools, missing the top spot by a mere 0.2 points. I know what excellence looks like because I’ve built it from the ground up.

The Policy-Practice Gap

Currently, there is a dangerous "knowledge gap" on our school board. It isn't always a lack of will; often, it is a lack of knowing.

There is a massive difference between policy (what looks good on a PowerPoint in a boardroom) and practice (what actually moves the needle for a third-grader in North Memphis). When board members don't understand the daily mechanics of a school, they pass "broad" plans that don't account for the specific needs of our 200+ individual campuses.

Why a "360-Degree View" Matters

Our students don't have time for a learning curve. We are in 2026, and the stakes have never been higher. With the threat of state intervention looming and literacy rates demanding urgent action, we cannot afford leadership that has to be "taught" how a school functions.

My 15 years in the trenches give me a 360-degree view that others simply lack:

• As a Teacher: I know how a lack of resources hampers the magic of learning.
• As a Principal: I know how to manage a budget to ensure funds actually reach the students, not just the bureaucracy.
• As a Nonprofit Founder: I know how to engage the community when the system fails to listen.

A Call for Student-Centered Leadership

I am running for School Board District 9 because I am fearless and I am prepared. I don’t need a tour of the district to understand our problems—I’ve been solving them for over a decade.

Every decision made by this board must be student-centered. If a policy doesn't directly enhance the life or the education of a child, it has no place in our district. It is time to stop saving seats and start saving our students.

We need leaders who don’t just talk about the "urban" struggle but who see the "brilliant" potential in every child. I have the knowledge. I have the passion. And with your vote, I will take the action our city deserves.

BECAUSE WITHOUT YOUR VOICE, WE ARE NOT A COMMUNITY.