Joyce Dorse-Coleman is a Democratic candidate for County School Board District 9 and a native Memphian who has resided in the Orange Mound Community for approximately forty years. A graduate of Melrose High School and the University of Memphis, she recently retired after a career in the medical field. Coleman describes herself not as a politician, but as a parent and grandparent passionate about the future of local education. She and her husband are parents to seven children, all graduates of Shelby County Schools, and have nine grandchildren, five of whom are currently enrolled in the district. Her commitment to public education is demonstrated through years of service as a chairperson for various Parent Teacher Organizations and Associations. Coleman’s advocacy became particularly visible when Dunbar Elementary, her neighborhood school, faced potential closure. Despite falling ill during this period, she collaborated with community leaders to fight for the school’s continued operation, ensuring students in Orange Mound could access quality education nearby. Emphasizing accountability, Coleman has urged voters to hold her responsible for her actions if elected. Her candidacy is rooted in deep community ties and a desire to ensure educational stability for families in Shelby County.

Tamara Jordan is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education for District 9 in the May 5, 2026 primary. She holds a Doctor of Education, as well as master’s degrees and an MBA from Christian Brothers University, alongside a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Memphis. Jordan brings fifteen years of experience as an educator and school leader, having served as a teacher, instructional coach, dean, assistant principal, and principal across various institutions including Power Center, Freedom Prep, HPA, KIPP Memphis, and Gestalt Community Schools. Her administrative record includes turning around a school from Level 1 to Level 5 status and serving as dean at Freedom Preparatory Academy through 2023. Jordan’s platform emphasizes rigorous data analysis, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and youth development. She advocates for an audit of the MSCS curriculum to ensure alignment with state standards. Beyond her professional career, she founded Memphis Women Aiming High Incorporated, a nonprofit focused on developing life skills and purpose for young women. Jordan has filed a Statement of Interest with the Tennessee Ethics Commission as a Shelby County official and candidate. Her background combines extensive leadership experience in diverse educational settings with a focus on accountability and student development.

Jonathan Carroll is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the Shelby County School Board for District 9 in the May 5, 2026 primary. A graduate of the University of Memphis, Carroll has resided in the Normal Station neighborhood since 1995 and served as its neighborhood association president for four years. His professional background includes working for SafeWays, an apartment safety nonprofit, alongside significant volunteer leadership roles within educational organizations. He previously led his son’s Parent-Teacher Association at Middle College High School for over three years and served as the legislative affairs chair for the statewide PTA for one year. Carroll identifies himself as a "school system outsider," emphasizing that he has never received compensation from Memphis-Shelby County Schools or its contractors. He argues that rebuilding public trust is the most critical issue facing the district today. To address this, he proposes holding town halls and fostering collaboration among diverse community groups. His political experience includes long-standing service on the executive committees of both the Shelby County Democratic Party since 2013 and the Tennessee Democratic Party since 2022. Carroll’s campaign focuses on his independent status and commitment to transparent engagement with residents outside traditional school administration channels.

Damon Curry Morris is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board for District 9 in the May 2026 primary. A substitute teacher and former behavioral specialist with over two decades of experience in Memphis schools, Morris currently homeschools and tutors students. He leads Teen Town University, an unchartered organization he reports has achieved a 96.7% graduation rate. Morris holds a bachelor’s degree from LeMoyne-Owen College and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional. Morris distinguishes himself as the only District 9 candidate supporting state intervention or takeover of the school system, having met with Republican lawmakers in Nashville to discuss such efforts. His platform emphasizes restoring public trust, ensuring accountability, improving student-centered focus, and providing competitive salaries for all education roles. He cites low reading proficiency rates as a central concern. Morris was one of five activists banned from MSCS property following a 2023 board meeting, leading to a federal First Amendment lawsuit that resulted in a $200,000 settlement announced in December 2024. In August 2025, he was arrested on misdemeanor charges related to an order of protection obtained by board member Stephanie Love; Morris has characterized the arrest as a political ploy intended to hinder his campaign. He previously ran for Shelby County Schools District 9 in 2014 and Memphis City Council in 2023.

Louis M. Morganfield III is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board, representing District 9 in the primary scheduled for May 5, 2026. He currently serves as a building engineer at Ida B. Wells Academy, a role that provides him with direct operational experience within the district’s educational infrastructure. This professional background positions him as an insider familiar with the logistical and maintenance challenges facing local schools, offering voters insight into the practical aspects of school management from a staff perspective rather than an administrative or political one. The provided biographical material does not include details regarding his formal education, family status, or specific policy platforms for the upcoming term. Consequently, there are no public controversies or notable legislative records to report at this time. As he campaigns for this elected office, voters will likely evaluate his qualifications based on his current employment within the school system and his stated intent to serve District 9. The candidate’s profile suggests a focus on grounded, facility-level understanding of the district’s needs, though specific campaign promises or detailed policy positions have not been disclosed in the available sources. His candidacy highlights the intersection of technical expertise and public service within the local education governance structure.