Dr. Marie N. Feagins has selected experienced educator and attorney Camalyn Turner as the new Special Assistant to the Superintendent.
“The role of Special Assistant is new to Memphis-Shelby County Schools but is a key role in many sizeable districts,” said Dr. Feagins. "Ms. Turner has excelled in this capacity at Atlanta Public Schools, and her passion for restorative justice and school safety make her uniquely suited to serve our community."
As Special Assistant, Ms. Turner will be a liaison between the Superintendent's Office and district departments. She will assist in developing and implementing high-quality education programs and provide strategy for effective communications around district policies, goals, and objectives.
Ms. Turner has more than 16 years of experience in instruction and leadership roles in K-12 and higher education. In this area of work, she has led strategic initiatives to improve student outcomes and school safety in diverse urban settings.
Before joining Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Ms. Turner served as General Counsel for the Jones Group, LLC, one of Alabama’s leading government relations firms.
As Special Assistant to the Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and later as the Executive Director of School Support, she spearheaded protocols and data systems that reduced the number of behavior incidents in targeted support schools and the number of firearms and unsafe school choice incidents by more than 50%.
Furthermore, she facilitated partnerships with the City of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, and local organizations to support student success.
As Instructional Coordinator for Birmingham City Schools, she coached principals, coordinated district-wide programs, and facilitated the Birmingham Promise Internship Program. She also served as Assistant Chair for the Jefferson County, Ala., Teen Court.
Ms. Turner holds a Doctor of Law degree from Birmingham School of Law, a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from The University of West Alabama, and a Master of Education and Bachelor of Science degree from Alabama A&M University.