
Memphis in Crisis: Dr. Feagins’ Firing Highlights Corruption at Every Level
By: Public Affairs Staff on January 26, 2025
JB Smiley and Martavious Jones
MEMPHIS, TN — The recent firing of Dr. Marie Feagins, superintendent of Tennessee’s largest school district, has ignited a firestorm of allegations implicating city council members, school board officials, and powerful community leaders in a web of corruption, retaliation, and abuse of power. In a city already grappling with the More for Memphis scandal and damning findings in the Department of Justice (DOJ) report, this latest controversy points to a governance system that appears to be crumbling under the weight of its own misdeeds.
Dr. Feagins has retained attorney William A. Wooten, who has sent preservation-of-evidence letters to Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. and Peer Power Board Co-Chair Dow McVean. These letters accuse the two of engaging in “malicious, retaliatory actions” that led to Feagins’ “wrongful termination” and interference in her business relationships. Wooten’s demands extend to the preservation of all electronic communications involving Dr. Feagins and a list of high-profile figures, including elected officials, former school board members, and influential business leaders.
“By this letter, you are hereby given notice not to destroy, conceal, or alter any paper or electronic files…related to Dr. Feagins’ claims,” the letter reads, a clear indication that litigation could soon follow.
Patterns of Retaliation and Mismanagement
Dr. Feagins’ termination came after the Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted to remove her, citing reasons detailed in a 200-page report released by board attorney Robert Spence. However, the timing of her ouster and the breadth of individuals implicated in the preservation letters paint a far more sinister picture.
“This is not just about the firing of one superintendent,” said a local activist familiar with the case. “This is about the systemic corruption that has taken hold in Memphis and Shelby County, and the citizens are paying the price.”
This latest scandal follows on the heels of the $100 million More for Memphis controversy, in which campaign donations from Tennessee Prosperity PAC—a group tied to More for Memphis—were funneled to elected officials who later advocated for ordinances benefitting the PAC. Community watchdog Joe B. Kent recently exposed the fraudulent financial claims underpinning the More for Memphis plan, calling it “indigestible publicly.”
Moreover, the DOJ’s blistering report on the Memphis Police Department condemned the city’s leadership for perpetuating a culture of civil rights abuses and systemic failures in governance. Together, these crises illustrate a local government seemingly driven more by self-interest than public service.
Feagins’ Firing and the Broader Implications
Attorney Wooten’s letters accuse Councilman Smiley and Dow McVean of misusing confidential information to harm Dr. Feagins’ reputation and career. But the preservation requests also implicate a broader network of power players, including School Seed CEO Vince McCaskill, Carter Malone Group President Deidre Malone, and even former city council chairman Martavious Jones.
For critics, the connections between these figures and their roles in Memphis governance are cause for alarm. The lack of transparency, coupled with the consolidation of power among a select group of influential individuals, has deepened public distrust.
One striking element of the preservation demand is its inclusion of communications with multiple elected officials. “If even half of what is alleged here is true, it represents an unprecedented abuse of public trust,” said a legal expert following the case.
A Governance System in Collapse?
Memphis is at a crossroads. The Feagins case, the More for Memphis scandal, and the DOJ’s findings have converged to reveal a city and county leadership structure mired in ethical and legal controversies. Public commenters have described local government meetings as hostile environments, where dissenting voices are silenced, speaking times are cut, and political insiders operate with impunity.
“This isn’t governance—it’s oppression,” said one Shelby County resident, referencing the Shelby County Commission’s decision to reduce public comment times from three minutes to one during discussions of contentious issues.
Council members and commissioners implicated in these controversies have largely remained silent, refusing to publicly address their roles or recuse themselves from decision-making processes that benefit their donors.
This saga is no longer just about Dr. Feagins—it’s about the soul of Memphis, a city caught in the grip of political corruption and mismanagement. For a city in desperate need of reform, the stakes couldn’t be higher.