August 30, 2025 • 46 mins
Ms. Dolores Rivers, Interim Executive Director of the Memphis Shelby County Education Association
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Memphis born and bred, walking the walk and talking and talk.
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show, weekday morning from six
to ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis
ten seventy Wdia.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
All right, we're back, everybody, Thanks so much for being here, Wdia, Memphis, Tennessee.
As I get a little closer to the mic, I'm excited.
We have a very special guest. It is now time
for standing special people, spotlight and in the studio with
me right now, the interim director, interim executive director, let
me say the whole thing of the Memphis Shelby County
(00:34):
Education Association. You pull up, Mike, guys, just a little
bit to you get a look closer to you. All right,
David go, good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Good morning.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
We got miss Rivers in the building in the studio.
The first time.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
It is you got that first time the broadcast journalism. Look,
I mean, you know, and you look comfortable on that side.
Tell us your first.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Take, this interim director doesn't work out, you may have
a place for.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Me here, that's right.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
With the headphones don't even work now, But you're gonna
be just fine, Like Mary J. Blise, You're gonna be
just so again, you're more than welcome. Thank You, first
of all, are two most important words in the language.
I always say, thank you for carving out time to
be with us here at w D I A. And
you're in the spotlight, mister Lowris Rivers, I call her affectionately. Listeners,
I call it affectionate what I call you Lukey's daughter, Lucas.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Anybody you remember the great.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Administrator white Haven High School did fairly coach. I mean,
Luky Williams was my guy, and that was what I said.
What a coincidence, My special people spot like person is
this daughter, missus william Ms Williams Dolores.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Now you spell your name uniquely, don't you.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It's dolorous with an O d O l O R
E s. Soon people say, don't do Lauris. But you're
just gonna let it, just let it ride the songs.
They don't spell the d e. I correct that part.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
That's spelling. Yes, it's important.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
That's why Lukae did it that way, and it was
I'm actually named after his mom.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
The Lords.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yes, wow, Okay, Well, in the studio, I got a
Southern University alumni.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Part of the alumni in the building.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Is what you went to Southern, the Southern University in
bad and Rouge, Louisiana.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yes, let's see you got some of this crimson and
cream on and you head to toe dst.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yes, of course, still shout out to my sorority. What
chapter I am in the Shelby County Okay, the alumni chapter?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
So good?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh all right, this late and studio right now, I'm
just gonna tell you to be transparent. She's a beautiful
person inside and out. I like to brace too.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
By the way, thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Let me just say it ain't no harassment because I
know you over the union.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Yeah, you over the union. I mean, I'll be careful
compliment your brain. It works in the workplace. But no,
they look good. They are very becoming of you. Yeah,
very becoming. There you go.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
So you are the interim executive director of the Memphis
Shelby County Education Association, affectionately or formerly known as the
m e A. Right, it was so the name change occurred.
When when when? When when we changed over as a.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
District to when they are separated. I'm not really sure
the time frame on that, but it was me e
A when it was all just one union education, right,
and then it may have been during the merger, but
then they split and then we formed another we formed
m s ce A. Yeah, and then we have another union.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Right, So how long have you been in the seat?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I have been in this seat since February of last year.
So I have a one year interim contract and it
is up this February. My interim status and so would
be up to the board whether they recommend that I
stay on as the permanent executive director. So we'll see
(04:11):
how that goes.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
The best on that.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Uh yeah, and my understanding, I think, uh, the board
members they do.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
All the voting, right.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yes, our board, the union's board, right, People get it
mixed up. It's not the school board, it's our We
have a directors Yes, a great Uh.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
So while the time is flying, it'll be February before.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
From six months in. This is a great time for
me to be here.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Somebody just emails, Uh, your daddy was the vice principal
at the White Heaven High School. Yes, Kyl Darden't Yeah,
Kevin Fifth says hello too.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
By the way, Ken, are you see okay?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
You better know he Yeah, he's been under the weather, Yeah,
through the surgery, came through flying colors.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
That's good news.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I hadn't heard from a while but through email, and he'll,
you know, shoot a text every now and then. So
he's doing much better. But yeah, he said, of course
he went to Southern as well. Yes, and he said, treat.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Her right, thanks Kevin.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
All right, so we got the introductions all of that stuff.
You are native Memphian, I am.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I am a native Memphian. I was born here. I
went to Hamilton Elementary. I had high aspirations of going
to Hamilton High School. But my mom remarried and moved.
We moved to Houston, Texas, and I went to middle
school and high school in Houston, and she shattered my
dreams of going to Hamilton High School. And I did
(05:49):
not talk for like a year. I wouldn't talk to
any of the people at school. So I was devastated.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Because you wanted to be able to say love Hamilton.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
I wanted to be able to say love Hamilton. I
wanted to be over there with all my friends. I
grew up in the neighborhood. I mean would visit in
the neighborhood, and I wanted to go to Hamilton with them.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
I know, I kind of get in miss rivers.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You know when you when you move, you know and
you make a transition that just come almost out of nowhere.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
It happened. We're going to Houston, We're going to Texas
with right, and.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Then you don't know anybody, I guess, And then you
don't have family really really down there, and you're like,
so when you go to school, you just wave at them,
keep it right going, because you're in your heart of hearts,
you want to be a Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
I relate.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I relate when I when I when they moved me
from K ninety seven back in the day on the
radio and they moved me to one on one, I
went kicking and screaming. In the first couple of couple
of weeks, I didn't say a thing on the radio.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Folk call me.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
What's going on? Saying you ain't saying. I was a
little bitter, I'll be honest with you. I was just
I would do the formatics and that was it. Run
a tight boy, but I wasn't talking. One day to programming,
reg said, what's going on, man, you ain't saying nothing.
Expect you had a break right there, right let's I
got over it and I kept it moving so We're
(07:02):
glad and I relate to that. We're glad that you're
in the studio and we want to we appreciate you
for them just being here with us at WDA. When
I take this one, I come back from the break.
What I want to do is find out exactly what
is your job? What do you do as as interim
executive director for the for the Teacher's Union, Who do
you serve? And how do you handle certain situations?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
And that?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
All right, okay, so let's take a ready for all right,
you and the heart and told the Memphis Am ten
seventy WDA my Special People Spotlight feature every Friday. All right,
check it out. Yeah, thank you so much for being here.
We're back stand Special People Spotlight every Friday. We do
it and without any fail, you know, no exception. The
Loors rivers Luky Williams daughter.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
But what's your mom? We always talking about Luky.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
My mom's name is Mary and she lives in Houston.
And my mom was Miss Melrose back in the day,
I want to say, nineteen sixty something, six one or
sixty two. My mom was Miss Mailrose, Miss Melrose.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
This goes well, Okay, that's some good history. Right there. Hello,
miss Mary, come on, and miss Mary is not Mary Grace?
Is it mayor Grace? Now Mary.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Ms Mayy full of grace? Yeah, all right, all right,
I'm ready to get right into it. Oh I think
I got Yeah. What is pretty much the topic of
discussion in the Memphis Shelly kind of Education Association.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Do you hear a lot from teachers?
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Most definitely we hear a lot from teachers.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
What they want?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I know, they will they need more pay. I know,
of course, what's what's on their mind. Let me get
your microphone up to talk to us a little bit,
miss Rivers about what are the teachers talking about?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
And what do you guys you're concern mostly about, you know, pay?
And I just want to take a MoMA since we
you did mention that. In twenty twenty three, Memphis Shelby
County Education Association negotiated sixty three million dollars salary increase,
which was the largest increase in history. And that was
(09:10):
part of the Professional Educators Collaborative Conference Act. And we
were the majority leaders in twenty twenty three, and you know,
we negotiated the largest increase in salary. They brought the
steps pays back and increase, and we advocated for salary
(09:33):
a rays as opposed to a bonus. And so because
you know, a raise is something you will continue to get.
A bonus is if you may or may not get it.
And just even that was a concern when the teachers
did receive a bonus of two thousand dollars recently, but
a lot of them didn't receive it, Like if you
(09:54):
were a professional learning coach, you didn't receive it, and
so behavior specialist, other people didn't receive it. And that
was kind of a concern, but it was mandated by
the state how they distributed the money, and I think
you had to be in front of the students fifty
percent of the time, something like don't quote me, don't
(10:16):
get mad, or it was something like that. And for
they for them to be able to receive the bonus
of you you're like a diena students or something like that,
you didn't receive that got it.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
So is that going to be a done deal they're
going to get they probably as compared to bonuses or
or is that a done deal yet or is it
in the well on the agenda.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
We are we always advocate for the teachers to get
the cola increase adjustment right, and we're just hoping that
when that money, the money comes from the state, it
just depends on how the district decides to, you know,
put it in you. So it would be great if
(10:58):
the teachers would always see that the cost of living,
because when you think about it, teachers are the only
profession that they work so much over time and they
don't get paid for it. Teachers go to work on
the weekends, especially when they're trying to get their room
set up for the beginning of the school year, and
it's just it's sad that a lot of teachers work
(11:21):
two jobs and they put so much of their heart
and soul into the job that they do. And so
you're not a teacher because of the pay, but it
would be nice to get compensated for it. You have
to have the heart for it because you are not
going to get paid your worth.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And we've often heard it is hard to work in
the district and in this profession. Let's talk about So
with that being said, now let's talk about student test scores.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
We hear proficiency, we hear growth.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Talk to us about what are you seeing and what
the Education Association is doing about it, and you've got
your ear, I'm sure, to the district and even to
the interim superintendent.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Thing that people first have to I hate when people
go out there have cock without all the information. First,
you have to understand the proficiency and growth are not
mutually exclusive. Proficiency is the goal. Growth is the path.
And if you think about our students and the systemic
(12:29):
issues that they face, a lot of our students come
to us already behind. So any gains that students make
in reading and language, arts and math shows that students
are learning, teachers are delivering, and the schools are moving forward.
So to discount growth because it falls short of proficiency
(12:51):
just really doesn't give credit to the heart fought battles
that are taking place in these classrooms every day.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I start right there, I get it. Let's talk about now.
I want to talk about it, you know, I just
want to. I got you in, I got a drill.
Talk about the testing procedures. Is it less testing, more testing,
teaching to the test.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
It's more testing. And I think, and I think about
when I first started teaching back in the day. I
just don't we didn't test like this. And I think
that less testing and more authentic lessons and delving into
the curriculum and giving the teachers the autonomy to teach
(13:31):
based on the needs of the students in their classroom.
And I just think limited testing would be wonderful. Note
all teachers like, just let us teach and that's testing.
It would be ideal.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
So that's some of the things you get on your desk,
you know about just let us teach. Let us we're
we promise you some proficiency and growth.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Right yeah, And to a certain extent, we can hear
you on that. But as what we could do about it,
all we can do was just keep bringing concerns about it,
because you know, that's a district level complaint and they
would have to just reconsider or look at how less
(14:12):
testing would be. I mean, maybe they can do a
pilot and you see, well, we're not gonna let this
school test every week. And I mean, I just think
it would be interesting to see how students would perform
if they just had less because at some point the
kids are just gonna mark anything because they're so tired
of testing. They're not taking it serious in some respects.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
So that's what you hear, that's what you see on
your desk.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
So you have at the Shelby County how would I say,
it's a Memphis Shelby County Education Association.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
You have what aura's.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Deal with the build?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Yeah, I guess it stands with area representatives.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I guess yes.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So how many you have in your you know, in
that still? Do they still come to that building?
Speaker 6 (14:57):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yes, And they deal with every sess, deal with staff exactly.
And they are pretty much the voice of the building.
A lot of the teachers take their concerns to them,
and then they are our liaison between the teachers and
at the in their building. It is it is good.
(15:19):
It is good to be the voice of the building
and support the teachers.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
So what is miss rippers? What is unit serve?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Like I hear that's the old term. We don't we
don't use unit serve anymore. We just say labor uh
the labor union representative. And we have a great ripping
mister Irwin Booth. I got to shout him out. And
also our president Charlotte Field, Charlotte kath Yeah, Charlotte President
(15:51):
the office. And I will just say we are very responsive.
Uh M s C is very responsive. If you call,
we're going to answer. Her if you had, we're going
to show up and Charlotte, if you call right now,
Charlotte may answer the phone. And somebody was so surprised
one day they called the office and she answered the phone,
and they were like, the President answers the Yes, the
(16:13):
President answers the phone.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Charlotte. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
We offer accessibility and timely resolution of grievances, and we
enable our members to have pride in their profession. So
we want to just continue to organize our members to
attain better working conditions and salaries and more funding for education.
And we just want to keep within our models supporting
(16:39):
those who support our teachers and is supporting those who
support our students. And as Miss Gloria Williams says, we
are unbought and unbossed.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
All right, if you don't mind, you know, I gotta
take a break. But before we take a break, I
want to throw out the numbers. If you have a question,
comment is something you want to say to the execu
interim The executive director of the Memphis Shepy County Education Association,
mister Delores Rivers.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
She's in studio right now.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Not on one five, three, five, nine, three four two
eight hundred and five zero three nine three four two
A three three five three five nine three four two.
She's an open book. Yeah, she's open book. When we
come back after the break, I want to talk about
your vision, Miss Rivers, for the s for the m SEA,
and I want to talk about this new coaching model
that I read about for teachers.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
You okay with that? All right?
Speaker 2 (17:25):
All that are coming up? Standale Morning Show. Yeah, man,
we are back. Thank you so much for being here.
It's a beautiful day, man, the move getting ready for
nine on one day. It's a long holiday weekend and
all of that, but I want you all to enjoy.
Right fifteen minutes before the top of the hour, nine
forty five, if digital time, it's your cup of team.
We are in the studio talking with the interim Executive
director of the Memphis Shelby County Education Association, mister Lewis.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Rivers, Southern University grad.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Part of the alumni in the studio, Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority incorporated, all of that stuff. New director, you'll do fine.
Let me get your mic back up. If those of
you have a question comment for our special guest not
a one five three five nine three four two eight
hundred and five zero three nine three four two or
eight three three five three five nine three four two. Uh,
(18:15):
you got your headphones on this roover, I do. Let's
go delicately to a line. Let's get a call WDI
come morning on the radio. Thanks for waiting, you're on.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Yeah, thank you, thank you for letting me in. And hello, mister.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Warwis, how are you today? I am well, how are
you fantastic? So listen.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
I was listening to you speak a moment ago and
you said that teachers some of their complaints are that
they were like less testing, and I caused to say,
I hope you never or the board never agree to that.
So my reason for this is, but the new generation,
you know AI is coming along. You're gonna need all
(18:52):
the education that we can get for our children. I mean,
it's already that we.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Considered the lawyers on the totepe.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
When it comes to.
Speaker 7 (19:00):
Learning and education in our school district is you know
it's not always up to part Less testing is the
last thing that we need. Second is we need to
compete with all the other school districts, and the other
school districts are not doing less testing. The last thing
we need to do is dumb our children down. I
think that's one of the problems. You know, this is
(19:20):
going up for subject a living, but like the voting thing,
come up, Well, we need to make sure that black
people don't have to have IDs? Well does everyone?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I'll have to have I d's.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
So why do you gladly to have ideas?
Speaker 7 (19:30):
So don't dumb us down? In the same sense of education,
less testing means dumbing our kids down, and we got
to stop there.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
I think the problem is we.
Speaker 7 (19:39):
Didn't make sure our teachers were equipped or competent. And
I have to use the word, but this is the
one I can come up with that competent enough to
teach on the levels that they need to teach. And
the reason I say that is because Mississippi School has
been proven when the other director came, the one they
let go doctor Fagan, that she realized that so many
(20:00):
teachers are teachers without the proper so repretations, and they've
been letting it go for years and years and years.
Then when you don't have that surpretation, maybe you're not
able to teach what the kids need. So I just
don't want to. I just don't want to put the ads. Oh,
let's stop, let's stop testing, let's go more into learning.
That's good. But with the new, with the new, with
the new way the things come along, we don't need
(20:20):
to do anything that's gonna lesson our kids education and
compete competing with the with the rest of the world.
But thank you, that's my question, that's my comment.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Good Marriagith, thank you so much. Words miss Rivers on that,
or you're just kind of making notes.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Out what she's saying.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
I mean, maybe complaints wasn't the proper word, but concerns.
But I think that when you consider testing, all tests
are not created equal. So the type and frequency and
the purpose of the assessments matter a lot.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
All right, let's take another call and thank you so much.
Let's go ahead delicately to uh line too. Don't believe
you guy, you go on you on the radio, your turn.
Thanks for waiting.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Yeah, damn, Arry, you got a great show going on.
I want to ask first to come in. I think
teachers should be paid more money that they're getting right now.
I really do, man, I mean, you know that's a
profession that they also have to grow in too, you know,
because I see today we have an even more younger teacher.
(21:19):
You know, we don't have the teachers that's been there
for ten, twenty thirty years, you know, we haven't these
young teachers.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Now.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
I know the way the world is changing and everything,
but we need to go back to the dations of
the things. That's the way I feel about teacher. But
I want to ask you, a young lady, how do
you feel about school year round?
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I actually don't really think that it's a bad idea
because when people think of a year round school, they
think that you're going to be going from August all
the way. But when they had a couple of schools
here that were year round, and the kids actually got
more breaks, so it was like they would be at
school through weeks and then they may be awful weeks.
(22:02):
So it was it was it seemed like once the
students or teachers got burned out, a break was coming up,
and so it gave a lot of breaks between them.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
What you were just saying, you said burn out?
Speaker 3 (22:14):
What you mean, teacher burnout? You know, teaching is a
very stressful and demanding job. I mean, and I think
that this is Dolores's opinion about year round school, that
it may not be a bad idea because, like I said,
they would still go the same amount of days, one
(22:35):
hundred and eighty days, but that would be broken up
into a year round schedule and it would allow for
more breaks for teachers and the students.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
Yeah, but I think they need to change the one
day they just do nine to five job for the teachers,
and also you know, just due to year round, I
mean we got all of the holiday them can be
the breaks and don't even think about the weather they
come around. They got more breaks than that.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
So when for the students, well, when you consider nine
to five, you have to consider logistics with buses and
schools can all operate from nine to five. Wait what buses?
Kids that ride buses. So it's kind of staggered, uh
now with dismissals because the buses have to I know
(23:32):
it sounds ideally what you're saying sounds uh reasonable, but
there are so many other factors that would go into that.
It's not like you can just say, Okay, we're gonna
stop and we're gonna be nine to five. There are
a lot of logistics that would have to go into
that and getting students back and forth.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
And you have to consider why don't we do this,
why don't we go in?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I don't think anybody else has proposed.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
It's all about the students the way I'm looking.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
At it, right, I don't think. I think you're probably
the only person that I've heard say.
Speaker 6 (24:07):
This bringing up buses. You know, when I was going
to school, wasn't on such things.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Well, that was the day the schools were neighborhood schools
and it's gonna walk to school. But now people are
school Sometimes, I know Ross Elementary there are students coming
from Tullahoma riding a bus from Tulahoma to Ross because
of the redistricting and all of that. So it's not
as simple as that what you're saying. I appreciate your comment,
(24:37):
but it's really not that simple, uh, to do it
that way logistically, it is not.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Thank you, thank you, I'm forgiven. Let's go back to
another caller. Don't believe go on you on the radio?
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Your turn? Yeah, I do all I can. Yes, sir,
you're on the radio.
Speaker 8 (24:54):
Clyde, the stool board members, I'm making more money than
the teachers.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Yeah, I just think that's unfair. Mhm.
Speaker 8 (25:07):
The teachers spend quality time with these kids. The teachers
don't through a lot of changes with these kids because, uh,
they get close to them. Uh, they know they in
and out, uh, and they'd be another get the talent again?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
All right, class, I appreciate the coming. Duly noted it.
Let's take another calling double the money on the radio?
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Your turn?
Speaker 9 (25:30):
Yeah, hey this Michael stop?
Speaker 4 (25:33):
How you doing? Michael? All right, that's on your mind.
Speaker 9 (25:37):
I won't say how to your sister too. How you doing,
Jordanica Bell?
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, yeah, my sister yeah in in Vecas yeah, yeah,
thank you.
Speaker 9 (25:46):
I got this strange concept.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I got this.
Speaker 9 (25:49):
Strange concept out been throwing around in my head. I
think kids can teach other each other a lot in
a classroom sitting because most kids are other kids stuff
and they understand it from another kid. I'm sire iaid
I saw said that word. They'd be saying I'm saying
(26:09):
the wrong word for Chuarren and I were. But that's
my idea. Yeah, yeah, they didn't help a teacher and
a couple of teachers assistants, and I think you a
lot of that. First, they'll learned how to get along
with one another in the class room setting number one,
And that's part of the problem.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
Too.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
I forget words, Michael.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Shout out to my sister in Vegas and thanks for
your comment. You have words. Ms Rivers.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
I agree with that. My last class I retired in
twenty twenty three from Downtown Elementary, and my students were
very self sufficient. They could they operated my technology. I
remember one day the internet was down in the building
and I kept saying why they saying that my internet
is working, and my student had put me on his
hot spot got me up and going. So you're absolutely right.
(26:59):
The kids, uh do well working with each other and
they can learn a lot from each other. And as
far as technologies, teachers and be really if you were
like me in the classroom not a verse in technology.
I relied on my students. So you are absolutely right,
and thank you for your comments.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
Thanks so much for that.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Saking another caller if you don't miss Rivers w D
I go on to get the radio with Dolores Rivers,
Interim executive director of the Memphishim County Education Association.
Speaker 4 (27:23):
You're there, Yes, good morning, dis aj.
Speaker 10 (27:30):
When I uh within the seventh grade, uh my pe
teacher with named Luke. When that's the same person, what
school was out Virginia High.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Yes, that was my dad.
Speaker 10 (27:46):
Yeah, he was our basketball coach.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
Yes, I have a question. My tax prepared.
Speaker 10 (27:53):
Told me that when Trump took over a protherident of
the United States, that he cut the uh the teachers,
uh uh, he cut the stuff that they could write off.
You know anything about that, the teachers breaking to write
out certain things when they did.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Detective heard anything about that. Nobody has brought that to
my attention, so I am not aware of that presently.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Okay.
Speaker 10 (28:21):
And one thing that stuck stuck with me when I
was in high school, if I band directed at car
but he told us the whole band, don't be a
school teacher, and I was either said, y'all, do not
be a school teacher. He didn't explain anything, but I
sort of saw him and.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Had something to do with the pay and the work.
Speaker 10 (28:41):
Okay, y'all have a good morning.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
You said Carver was the hermit ranking.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
No, No, that was Ozzy Smith.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
He sure was.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure in variable's coming to play when
he mentioned that, when he said that, you never know,
thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
I gotta take a break up against a break right now.
Up his Rivers, if you don't mind before we go
to break this, WDI listener writes to me in the
email uh in the subject space, good morning, Executive Director
Rivers and stand hats off to MS Rivers and your
prestigious position. I've always loved the work of the Teachers Association.
I'm now a member of the Memphis Retired Teachers Association.
(29:17):
Could you explain the split if that's the word?
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Is there split going on? Teacher?
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, I didn't think that was a split on that,
but that could you explain the split? But is there
a difference or is when you're retired.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Retire you have to go to you become a member
of the Retired Teachers Association because we in your pay
duest go.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Take a break. That's how we get down. Everybody, just
a free a few minutes after the top of the hour.
I appreciate everybody being here. Get ready for a long
holiday weekend, ready for Labor Day and of course September first,
not on one day in Memphis.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Wait, I can hidly wait.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
All right, let's get back to our special guest and
the phone lines double D I gorning and thanks for waiting.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
You're on the radio. Who's next.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, good Friday morning. Stand bare to you,
miss Cox, and good morning to you, Miss River. I
just called to tell you I know your dad, your
dad and I used to lyne then but on now
(30:22):
and your dad was a line dancer and he was
and he would wear them big ten gallon hat.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Ye his.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
And he was such a nice guy.
Speaker 8 (30:36):
He was.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
He was a very nice, warm, welcoming person.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
And you know he's really miss really really missed.
Speaker 5 (30:46):
But I want to also say that I think teachers
are sold the word I'm trying to say. They don't
get they don't get to respect, they don't get to
pay and the acknowledgement that they deserve. And I know,
you know, as a teacher, teachers are not just teachers.
(31:07):
Teachers do a lot of things. You know, they got
to be social workers, they got to be a lot
of cases, they got.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
To be the parents.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
You know, they take on a parimal role during the
course of the school there and I don't think they
get the admiration that they deserve. They don't definitely don't
get to pay, and they need more support in the classrooms.
I think that's a big problem with learning. You know,
(31:41):
in the elementary grade that you know, they don't have
the teachers aids that they used to have back in
the day.
Speaker 6 (31:48):
So I under stain, but.
Speaker 5 (31:52):
My teachers, I put them on a pedestal because all
of us, all of the knowledge that we have, the
teachers gave it to us. That the teachers were our
foundation by our careers, whatever we grew up and became,
you know, the foundation was laid by teachers. So teachers
(32:15):
are so important. And I think you all deserve six figures.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
You are I do too, ms Cox. You are right
because teachers make all other professions happen. And when you're
a teacher, you come you have a unique skill set
because you have to wear so many hats throughout the
day and when you and you just you just have
to be a leader. You manage people. There's so many
(32:44):
things that you do in a day being a teacher.
You put you're putting out all kinds of fires. So
I appreciate your comments, and I wish that we lived
in the world where people would see that teachers should
at least be baking six.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Last and when you go and when you go home,
your day doesn't end. You still have been have to
do teacher work in addition to taking on your family responsibilities.
So teaching never ends for you all.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
So I'll admire you.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Thank you great.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Weekend, Beverly w d I listener writes MSS Rivers subject
space schools. Rozelle Elementary was year round at one time
and it was excellent.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Yes, and Roseille just got her award. Yes, and we
have one of our board of directors, doctor Alicia Irving,
is over at uh Rozelle. So that's what I was
speaking of. I think people who were working in a
year round school loved it because you got the appropriate
breaks and you and you could just set your schedule
(33:54):
around your breaks. So I think that it was It's
not bad. It may sound.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
Yeah, and the shout out.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
To Rozelle a creative Arts performing is the creative and
performing arts school. Yeah, something about recognition of honor in
the state magnet become a Magnet school or something to
that effect.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
I think doctor tars Hines is the principal. Yeah. Yeah,
that's that's super great.
Speaker 6 (34:18):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yeah, shout out to all folks with Rozell. It's a
team effort. Let's go delicately back to Holdo. Yeah, let's
go delicately back to the phone lives. Yeah, you're run
in schools. That's that's something you really to ponder about
in the study.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
That thing.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
All right?
Speaker 2 (34:31):
No, okay, now mu hold on for the phones a
little bit. Uh, let's talk about your vision. Why let
you get out of here. You know, every leader must
have a vision, must be on a mission. So Ms
Rivers as interim executive director of the Memphis Shelby County
(34:52):
Education Association, What is your vision?
Speaker 3 (34:56):
I think my vision is this. It's always been. When
I was in the classroom, I always believed in supporting teachers,
strengthening the voice of educators, also ensuring school is a
place where learning is equitable and opportunity driven. So that
(35:21):
is my vision is to continue the work I when
I was in the classroom, when I worked at schools.
If you know me, you know that what I'm doing
advocating for teachers and students is something that I've always done,
so that hasn't changed. I don't switch and flip and flop.
My vision is consistent. I believe in being the voice.
(35:45):
I believe in supporting and that's what I'll continue to do.
And so I'm committed to deeper engagement with educators and
amplifying my advocacy through this role as from executive director
and creating creating spaces where collaboration and not compliance drives change.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
That's a pretty good vision to me. Let's execute it.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
We're going forward, all right, listener writes to me in
the email in the subject space, Miss d Rivers say
good morning. Stand First, let me say thank you for
that MJ tribute this morning in the mix, sending a
good morning and hello to mss Rivers. I do believe
she was my son's kindergarten teach at Double Tree Elementary
years ago, signed Pam Renix.
Speaker 6 (36:35):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Ever, I didn't ever teach kindergarten, but I did teach
at Double Tree, so I could have been his third
grade teacher or his second third grade teacher. Yes, but
I never taught kindergarten, but I wouldn't go lower. Then second.
It take special people to teach, Lord, But you did third, right,
(36:58):
I did second, third at Double Tree?
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Right, you know third is the benchmark, so you're right
in there. All right, thank you for that one as well.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
All right, I think I can up against this last break.
They're gonna wrap things up in the studio with me
this morning. W Dad Listens is the interim executive director
of the Memphis Shelby County Education Association. Miss Rivers the
Lowers Rivers succeeded a familiar name with the district and
school board member Keith Williams, and now she has succeeded him,
(37:29):
and she's often running in this seat as the interim
executive director.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Paff you Bill's be right back. No, that's right. Yeah,
we are the heart and so oh wee yeah, man
a Memphis.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
So I'm talking about men, all right, So when the
waiting moments of the Stan Bill Morning Show, definitely appreciate
everybody everyone who tuned in this morning.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Pretty good show. I hope in your in your eyes
and your ears that.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Kind of stuff, all right, So Memphis shall be kind
of educate association. The interim executive directors in the building
we've been talking to, of course, mister Lorries Rivers, hope
you've enjoyed yourself while you've been here. Sister Rivers, have
your so you got your mic? Oh yeah, your mic'shone. Okay,
(38:19):
So as we kind of you're more than welcome as
we kind of wrap up those of you who may
not have known what Memphis shall be kind of education
association does or is and you know the work. I
hope you're a little bit more enlightened. And they are
a collective voice of members. They promote, advance and protect
(38:40):
quality education, rights and interests of members and learning for
all children. This listener rights, I guess they're part of
alumni too. The Southern in the house is U.
Speaker 4 (38:56):
I listening rights. Go Jags, so the university in the house.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Shout out to your guest, my fellow Jaguar from a
former sg A first vice president, Go Jaggs Denver.
Speaker 4 (39:07):
Wow, he's sent a nice little pic here. He wearing
a pair for Navy. Is that an issue in the
background on the yellow shirt?
Speaker 3 (39:18):
I need a shirt like that.
Speaker 2 (39:21):
Some Paara Fornaire Young from Southern bat in News. All right, Okay,
before you.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
Go, got any shout outs, I do.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
I cannot leave here without shouting out my church, Centenary
United Methodist Church, where Reverend Keith Caldwell is my pastor.
And he's he's big with labor and involved actively in labor.
He's the president of MICHAEH, the Memphis inter I may
(39:50):
say it wrong, but it's Micah and you who are
familiar with Micah and we are having at our church
a labor in the poolpit on Sunday, UH September the seventh,
And once again I have to shout out to my
msse A family, the board of directors who have been
so supportive of me and patient with me as I'm
(40:12):
going through this learning phase of what I'm doing and
understanding more and more. Because it is it's it can
be busy. My day can just be busy. I get
all kinds of calls. It's like somebody's texting me. The
vice president is texting me something about extending the progress
reports and something about I ready something going on with
(40:36):
the I ready, I'm not sure, but Mildred, I will
definitely be looking into that when I go back to
the office, and I just want to just upcoming things
like I will be participating on a panel for the
nine on One Day summit that I thought I was
gonna get to sleep in. But yes, that's Danyelle for
(41:00):
Cookie Jones where the contact people's thank you for that invitation.
Matter of fact, right then, I'm sure you'll be at
the listening session at schools and then I have another
UH engagement while I'll be meeting with Tammy Sawyer on
(41:24):
September the second, and so I've been busy, but like
I said, MSCA, we pride ourselves on being responsive and
helpful and supportive. And so if you would like to join,
we are a professional organization. We represent teachers, substitutes, school nurses,
(41:50):
anybody that deals with the students we represent, and you
can go to our website at ww dot m s
CEA dot org if you want to learn more about joining,
or you can call the office right now and Charlotte
will probably answer the phone and you can talk to
(42:10):
her and our union representative, mister Irmin Booth, and he's
also accessible. You can call me, but I'm right here
with Stan, but I'll get right back to you if
you text me while I'm here. I just heard from
a student pope from East High School and Eric, I
am going to be calling you once I leave here.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
All right, All right then, So it's the interim executive
director of the Mefis Shelvy Kind of Education Association, mister
Laws Rivers in the building.
Speaker 4 (42:42):
Thanks for covering, got some time to be with us
at WDIL and let.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
Me shout out my live sisters that's been sending in emails.
Speaker 7 (42:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I appreciate you guys for listening and it's so your support.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
So thank you.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
And my sister she may be listening, doctor dell over
at university this to do and my kids, so thank
you stand for having me. I appreciate you giving me
this opportunity to share. He's saying, anytime y'all heard this,
s uf y'all hear me every Friday. Y'all know that's
what stands in But thank you.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
All right, No, thank you man, It's been great. Thank you,
Dolores Rivers.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
And I'm hoping that, of course positively speaking, that interim
will be removed permanent executive director.
Speaker 4 (43:29):
How about that? All right?
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Thank you for all that you do, all your team,
your wonderful staff, all of Miss Charlotte.
Speaker 4 (43:35):
Much love to you.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
You got a great president, the team y'all doing some
things as on flicker right, Yes, thank you.
Speaker 3 (43:41):
We're the local union across the way right behind the
Board of Education. We have a facility and let me
just say this, let me shout out one more person.
We do professional development for teachers. We have a great director,
one of our board of directors, Amber Smith, and she
puts together the professional development, and this year we're opening
up to all teachers. Used to just just basically cater
(44:02):
to our members, but we are going to open it
up and so be looking to hear about that soon.
And we just have a lot of wonderful things in store.
We're getting ready to do an empowerment breakfast. Our team
is getting ready to do some team building exercises with
our ars. So we are up and running. And if
(44:26):
you would like to be a part of something great,
just go to the website and join.
Speaker 4 (44:34):
That's it, all right, thanks so much all.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Before I get out of here, don't you This is
a payday weekend, I believe for most.
Speaker 4 (44:40):
Listen to me.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Get your tickets to our anniversary celebration seventy seven years young.
Speaker 4 (44:45):
Yes, we are WDIA.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
Go to my WDA dot com get your tickets for
our anniversary concert celebration. This would be a good time
to do so, so we'll see you November twenty one.
Also nine on one Day is going on. It's a
lot happening this long holiday weekend. Uh, and I want
you to be a part of it. Just come on
be downtown. That's what actually gonna be on Monday, nine
old one Day.
Speaker 4 (45:06):
Here in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
We're gonna be hanging out the Western Hotel and Downtown Memphis,
right there across the FedEx Forum. We're gonna be on
the inside. We got some live broadcasts. We are excited
about that as well. We'll be hanging out all day long.
On Monday, you'll see me somewhere dealing with a night
on one day. And my other thank you is we'll
go to those who set in this this week for
BEV Monday. As you know, the Reverend, doctor Keith Norman
(45:31):
and Porscha set in on Tuesday. Porscha Stevens Wednesday was
cursed in Cheersday, the outstanding job everybody. Thursday, the one
and only Professor Emeritis University of Memphis, Professor Otis Sanford.
And today sitting in for the Queen, the CBS star
Bev Johnson. Sitting in for Bev is Gail Jones Carson,
(45:54):
the Great GJC will be in the air chair at eleven.
Speaker 4 (45:57):
Thank you, wd I listens, thank you so much. He's
on and poppin'.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show weekdays from six to
ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis ten
seventy wd IA
Memphis born and bred, walking the walk and talking and talk.
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show, weekday morning from six
to ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis
ten seventy Wdia.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
All right, we're back, everybody, Thanks so much for being here, Wdia, Memphis, Tennessee.
As I get a little closer to the mic, I'm excited.
We have a very special guest. It is now time
for standing special people, spotlight and in the studio with
me right now, the interim director, interim executive director, let
me say the whole thing of the Memphis Shelby County
(00:34):
Education Association. You pull up, Mike, guys, just a little
bit to you get a look closer to you. All right,
David go, good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Good morning.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
We got miss Rivers in the building in the studio.
The first time.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
It is you got that first time the broadcast journalism. Look,
I mean, you know, and you look comfortable on that side.
Tell us your first.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Take, this interim director doesn't work out, you may have
a place for.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Me here, that's right.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
With the headphones don't even work now, But you're gonna
be just fine, Like Mary J. Blise, You're gonna be
just so again, you're more than welcome. Thank You, first
of all, are two most important words in the language.
I always say, thank you for carving out time to
be with us here at w D I A. And
you're in the spotlight, mister Lowris Rivers, I call her affectionately. Listeners,
I call it affectionate what I call you Lukey's daughter, Lucas.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Anybody you remember the great.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Administrator white Haven High School did fairly coach. I mean,
Luky Williams was my guy, and that was what I said.
What a coincidence, My special people spot like person is
this daughter, missus william Ms Williams Dolores.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Now you spell your name uniquely, don't you.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It's dolorous with an O d O l O R
E s. Soon people say, don't do Lauris. But you're
just gonna let it, just let it ride the songs.
They don't spell the d e. I correct that part.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
That's spelling. Yes, it's important.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
That's why Lukae did it that way, and it was
I'm actually named after his mom.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
The Lords.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yes, wow, Okay, Well, in the studio, I got a
Southern University alumni.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Part of the alumni in the building.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Is what you went to Southern, the Southern University in
bad and Rouge, Louisiana.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yes, let's see you got some of this crimson and
cream on and you head to toe dst.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yes, of course, still shout out to my sorority. What
chapter I am in the Shelby County Okay, the alumni chapter?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
So good?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh all right, this late and studio right now, I'm
just gonna tell you to be transparent. She's a beautiful
person inside and out. I like to brace too.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
By the way, thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Let me just say it ain't no harassment because I
know you over the union.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Yeah, you over the union. I mean, I'll be careful
compliment your brain. It works in the workplace. But no,
they look good. They are very becoming of you. Yeah,
very becoming. There you go.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
So you are the interim executive director of the Memphis
Shelby County Education Association, affectionately or formerly known as the
m e A. Right, it was so the name change occurred.
When when when? When when we changed over as a.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
District to when they are separated. I'm not really sure
the time frame on that, but it was me e
A when it was all just one union education, right,
and then it may have been during the merger, but
then they split and then we formed another we formed
m s ce A. Yeah, and then we have another union.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Right, So how long have you been in the seat?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I have been in this seat since February of last year.
So I have a one year interim contract and it
is up this February. My interim status and so would
be up to the board whether they recommend that I
stay on as the permanent executive director. So we'll see
(04:11):
how that goes.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
The best on that.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Uh yeah, and my understanding, I think, uh, the board
members they do.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
All the voting, right.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yes, our board, the union's board, right, People get it
mixed up. It's not the school board, it's our We
have a directors Yes, a great Uh.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
So while the time is flying, it'll be February before.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
From six months in. This is a great time for
me to be here.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Somebody just emails, Uh, your daddy was the vice principal
at the White Heaven High School. Yes, Kyl Darden't Yeah,
Kevin Fifth says hello too.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
By the way, Ken, are you see okay?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
You better know he Yeah, he's been under the weather, Yeah,
through the surgery, came through flying colors.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
That's good news.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I hadn't heard from a while but through email, and he'll,
you know, shoot a text every now and then. So
he's doing much better. But yeah, he said, of course
he went to Southern as well. Yes, and he said, treat.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Her right, thanks Kevin.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
All right, so we got the introductions all of that stuff.
You are native Memphian, I am.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I am a native Memphian. I was born here. I
went to Hamilton Elementary. I had high aspirations of going
to Hamilton High School. But my mom remarried and moved.
We moved to Houston, Texas, and I went to middle
school and high school in Houston, and she shattered my
dreams of going to Hamilton High School. And I did
(05:49):
not talk for like a year. I wouldn't talk to
any of the people at school. So I was devastated.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Because you wanted to be able to say love Hamilton.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
I wanted to be able to say love Hamilton. I
wanted to be over there with all my friends. I
grew up in the neighborhood. I mean would visit in
the neighborhood, and I wanted to go to Hamilton with them.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
I know, I kind of get in miss rivers.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You know when you when you move, you know and
you make a transition that just come almost out of nowhere.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
It happened. We're going to Houston, We're going to Texas
with right, and.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Then you don't know anybody, I guess, And then you
don't have family really really down there, and you're like,
so when you go to school, you just wave at them,
keep it right going, because you're in your heart of hearts,
you want to be a Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
I relate.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I relate when I when I when they moved me
from K ninety seven back in the day on the
radio and they moved me to one on one, I
went kicking and screaming. In the first couple of couple
of weeks, I didn't say a thing on the radio.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Folk call me.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
What's going on? Saying you ain't saying. I was a
little bitter, I'll be honest with you. I was just
I would do the formatics and that was it. Run
a tight boy, but I wasn't talking. One day to programming,
reg said, what's going on, man, you ain't saying nothing.
Expect you had a break right there, right let's I
got over it and I kept it moving so We're
(07:02):
glad and I relate to that. We're glad that you're
in the studio and we want to we appreciate you
for them just being here with us at WDA. When
I take this one, I come back from the break.
What I want to do is find out exactly what
is your job? What do you do as as interim
executive director for the for the Teacher's Union, Who do
you serve? And how do you handle certain situations?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
And that?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
All right, okay, so let's take a ready for all right,
you and the heart and told the Memphis Am ten
seventy WDA my Special People Spotlight feature every Friday. All right,
check it out. Yeah, thank you so much for being here.
We're back stand Special People Spotlight every Friday. We do
it and without any fail, you know, no exception. The
Loors rivers Luky Williams daughter.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
But what's your mom? We always talking about Luky.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
My mom's name is Mary and she lives in Houston.
And my mom was Miss Melrose back in the day,
I want to say, nineteen sixty something, six one or
sixty two. My mom was Miss Mailrose, Miss Melrose.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
This goes well, Okay, that's some good history. Right there. Hello,
miss Mary, come on, and miss Mary is not Mary Grace?
Is it mayor Grace? Now Mary.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Ms Mayy full of grace? Yeah, all right, all right,
I'm ready to get right into it. Oh I think
I got Yeah. What is pretty much the topic of
discussion in the Memphis Shelly kind of Education Association.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Do you hear a lot from teachers?
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Most definitely we hear a lot from teachers.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
What they want?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I know, they will they need more pay. I know,
of course, what's what's on their mind. Let me get
your microphone up to talk to us a little bit,
miss Rivers about what are the teachers talking about?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
And what do you guys you're concern mostly about, you know, pay?
And I just want to take a MoMA since we
you did mention that. In twenty twenty three, Memphis Shelby
County Education Association negotiated sixty three million dollars salary increase,
which was the largest increase in history. And that was
(09:10):
part of the Professional Educators Collaborative Conference Act. And we
were the majority leaders in twenty twenty three, and you know,
we negotiated the largest increase in salary. They brought the
steps pays back and increase, and we advocated for salary
(09:33):
a rays as opposed to a bonus. And so because
you know, a raise is something you will continue to get.
A bonus is if you may or may not get it.
And just even that was a concern when the teachers
did receive a bonus of two thousand dollars recently, but
a lot of them didn't receive it, Like if you
(09:54):
were a professional learning coach, you didn't receive it, and
so behavior specialist, other people didn't receive it. And that
was kind of a concern, but it was mandated by
the state how they distributed the money, and I think
you had to be in front of the students fifty
percent of the time, something like don't quote me, don't
(10:16):
get mad, or it was something like that. And for
they for them to be able to receive the bonus
of you you're like a diena students or something like that,
you didn't receive that got it.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
So is that going to be a done deal they're
going to get they probably as compared to bonuses or
or is that a done deal yet or is it
in the well on the agenda.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
We are we always advocate for the teachers to get
the cola increase adjustment right, and we're just hoping that
when that money, the money comes from the state, it
just depends on how the district decides to, you know,
put it in you. So it would be great if
(10:58):
the teachers would always see that the cost of living,
because when you think about it, teachers are the only
profession that they work so much over time and they
don't get paid for it. Teachers go to work on
the weekends, especially when they're trying to get their room
set up for the beginning of the school year, and
it's just it's sad that a lot of teachers work
(11:21):
two jobs and they put so much of their heart
and soul into the job that they do. And so
you're not a teacher because of the pay, but it
would be nice to get compensated for it. You have
to have the heart for it because you are not
going to get paid your worth.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And we've often heard it is hard to work in
the district and in this profession. Let's talk about So
with that being said, now let's talk about student test scores.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
We hear proficiency, we hear growth.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Talk to us about what are you seeing and what
the Education Association is doing about it, and you've got
your ear, I'm sure, to the district and even to
the interim superintendent.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Thing that people first have to I hate when people
go out there have cock without all the information. First,
you have to understand the proficiency and growth are not
mutually exclusive. Proficiency is the goal. Growth is the path.
And if you think about our students and the systemic
(12:29):
issues that they face, a lot of our students come
to us already behind. So any gains that students make
in reading and language, arts and math shows that students
are learning, teachers are delivering, and the schools are moving forward.
So to discount growth because it falls short of proficiency
(12:51):
just really doesn't give credit to the heart fought battles
that are taking place in these classrooms every day.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I start right there, I get it. Let's talk about now.
I want to talk about it, you know, I just
want to. I got you in, I got a drill.
Talk about the testing procedures. Is it less testing, more testing,
teaching to the test.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
It's more testing. And I think, and I think about
when I first started teaching back in the day. I
just don't we didn't test like this. And I think
that less testing and more authentic lessons and delving into
the curriculum and giving the teachers the autonomy to teach
(13:31):
based on the needs of the students in their classroom.
And I just think limited testing would be wonderful. Note
all teachers like, just let us teach and that's testing.
It would be ideal.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
So that's some of the things you get on your desk,
you know about just let us teach. Let us we're
we promise you some proficiency and growth.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Right yeah, And to a certain extent, we can hear
you on that. But as what we could do about it,
all we can do was just keep bringing concerns about it,
because you know, that's a district level complaint and they
would have to just reconsider or look at how less
(14:12):
testing would be. I mean, maybe they can do a
pilot and you see, well, we're not gonna let this
school test every week. And I mean, I just think
it would be interesting to see how students would perform
if they just had less because at some point the
kids are just gonna mark anything because they're so tired
of testing. They're not taking it serious in some respects.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
So that's what you hear, that's what you see on
your desk.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
So you have at the Shelby County how would I say,
it's a Memphis Shelby County Education Association.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
You have what aura's.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Deal with the build?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Yeah, I guess it stands with area representatives.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I guess yes.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So how many you have in your you know, in
that still? Do they still come to that building?
Speaker 6 (14:57):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yes, And they deal with every sess, deal with staff exactly.
And they are pretty much the voice of the building.
A lot of the teachers take their concerns to them,
and then they are our liaison between the teachers and
at the in their building. It is it is good.
(15:19):
It is good to be the voice of the building
and support the teachers.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
So what is miss rippers? What is unit serve?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Like I hear that's the old term. We don't we
don't use unit serve anymore. We just say labor uh
the labor union representative. And we have a great ripping
mister Irwin Booth. I got to shout him out. And
also our president Charlotte Field, Charlotte kath Yeah, Charlotte President
(15:51):
the office. And I will just say we are very responsive.
Uh M s C is very responsive. If you call,
we're going to answer. Her if you had, we're going
to show up and Charlotte, if you call right now,
Charlotte may answer the phone. And somebody was so surprised
one day they called the office and she answered the phone,
and they were like, the President answers the Yes, the
(16:13):
President answers the phone.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Charlotte. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
We offer accessibility and timely resolution of grievances, and we
enable our members to have pride in their profession. So
we want to just continue to organize our members to
attain better working conditions and salaries and more funding for education.
And we just want to keep within our models supporting
(16:39):
those who support our teachers and is supporting those who
support our students. And as Miss Gloria Williams says, we
are unbought and unbossed.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
All right, if you don't mind, you know, I gotta
take a break. But before we take a break, I
want to throw out the numbers. If you have a question,
comment is something you want to say to the execu
interim The executive director of the Memphis Shepy County Education Association,
mister Delores Rivers.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
She's in studio right now.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Not on one five, three, five, nine, three four two
eight hundred and five zero three nine three four two
A three three five three five nine three four two.
She's an open book. Yeah, she's open book. When we
come back after the break, I want to talk about
your vision, Miss Rivers, for the s for the m SEA,
and I want to talk about this new coaching model
that I read about for teachers.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
You okay with that? All right?
Speaker 2 (17:25):
All that are coming up? Standale Morning Show. Yeah, man,
we are back. Thank you so much for being here.
It's a beautiful day, man, the move getting ready for
nine on one day. It's a long holiday weekend and
all of that, but I want you all to enjoy.
Right fifteen minutes before the top of the hour, nine
forty five, if digital time, it's your cup of team.
We are in the studio talking with the interim Executive
director of the Memphis Shelby County Education Association, mister Lewis.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Rivers, Southern University grad.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Part of the alumni in the studio, Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority incorporated, all of that stuff. New director, you'll do fine.
Let me get your mic back up. If those of
you have a question comment for our special guest not
a one five three five nine three four two eight
hundred and five zero three nine three four two or
eight three three five three five nine three four two. Uh,
(18:15):
you got your headphones on this roover, I do. Let's
go delicately to a line. Let's get a call WDI
come morning on the radio. Thanks for waiting, you're on.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Yeah, thank you, thank you for letting me in. And hello, mister.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Warwis, how are you today? I am well, how are
you fantastic? So listen.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
I was listening to you speak a moment ago and
you said that teachers some of their complaints are that
they were like less testing, and I caused to say,
I hope you never or the board never agree to that.
So my reason for this is, but the new generation,
you know AI is coming along. You're gonna need all
(18:52):
the education that we can get for our children. I mean,
it's already that we.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Considered the lawyers on the totepe.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
When it comes to.
Speaker 7 (19:00):
Learning and education in our school district is you know
it's not always up to part Less testing is the
last thing that we need. Second is we need to
compete with all the other school districts, and the other
school districts are not doing less testing. The last thing
we need to do is dumb our children down. I
think that's one of the problems. You know, this is
(19:20):
going up for subject a living, but like the voting thing,
come up, Well, we need to make sure that black
people don't have to have IDs? Well does everyone?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I'll have to have I d's.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
So why do you gladly to have ideas?
Speaker 7 (19:30):
So don't dumb us down? In the same sense of education,
less testing means dumbing our kids down, and we got
to stop there.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
I think the problem is we.
Speaker 7 (19:39):
Didn't make sure our teachers were equipped or competent. And
I have to use the word, but this is the
one I can come up with that competent enough to
teach on the levels that they need to teach. And
the reason I say that is because Mississippi School has
been proven when the other director came, the one they
let go doctor Fagan, that she realized that so many
(20:00):
teachers are teachers without the proper so repretations, and they've
been letting it go for years and years and years.
Then when you don't have that surpretation, maybe you're not
able to teach what the kids need. So I just
don't want to. I just don't want to put the ads. Oh,
let's stop, let's stop testing, let's go more into learning.
That's good. But with the new, with the new, with
the new way the things come along, we don't need
(20:20):
to do anything that's gonna lesson our kids education and
compete competing with the with the rest of the world.
But thank you, that's my question, that's my comment.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Good Marriagith, thank you so much. Words miss Rivers on that,
or you're just kind of making notes.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Out what she's saying.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
I mean, maybe complaints wasn't the proper word, but concerns.
But I think that when you consider testing, all tests
are not created equal. So the type and frequency and
the purpose of the assessments matter a lot.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
All right, let's take another call and thank you so much.
Let's go ahead delicately to uh line too. Don't believe
you guy, you go on you on the radio, your turn.
Thanks for waiting.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Yeah, damn, Arry, you got a great show going on.
I want to ask first to come in. I think
teachers should be paid more money that they're getting right now.
I really do, man, I mean, you know that's a
profession that they also have to grow in too, you know,
because I see today we have an even more younger teacher.
(21:19):
You know, we don't have the teachers that's been there
for ten, twenty thirty years, you know, we haven't these
young teachers.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Now.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
I know the way the world is changing and everything,
but we need to go back to the dations of
the things. That's the way I feel about teacher. But
I want to ask you, a young lady, how do
you feel about school year round?
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I actually don't really think that it's a bad idea
because when people think of a year round school, they
think that you're going to be going from August all
the way. But when they had a couple of schools
here that were year round, and the kids actually got
more breaks, so it was like they would be at
school through weeks and then they may be awful weeks.
(22:02):
So it was it was it seemed like once the
students or teachers got burned out, a break was coming up,
and so it gave a lot of breaks between them.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
What you were just saying, you said burn out?
Speaker 3 (22:14):
What you mean, teacher burnout? You know, teaching is a
very stressful and demanding job. I mean, and I think
that this is Dolores's opinion about year round school, that
it may not be a bad idea because, like I said,
they would still go the same amount of days, one
(22:35):
hundred and eighty days, but that would be broken up
into a year round schedule and it would allow for
more breaks for teachers and the students.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
Yeah, but I think they need to change the one
day they just do nine to five job for the teachers,
and also you know, just due to year round, I
mean we got all of the holiday them can be
the breaks and don't even think about the weather they
come around. They got more breaks than that.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
So when for the students, well, when you consider nine
to five, you have to consider logistics with buses and
schools can all operate from nine to five. Wait what buses?
Kids that ride buses. So it's kind of staggered, uh
now with dismissals because the buses have to I know
(23:32):
it sounds ideally what you're saying sounds uh reasonable, but
there are so many other factors that would go into that.
It's not like you can just say, Okay, we're gonna
stop and we're gonna be nine to five. There are
a lot of logistics that would have to go into
that and getting students back and forth.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
And you have to consider why don't we do this,
why don't we go in?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
I don't think anybody else has proposed.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
It's all about the students the way I'm looking.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
At it, right, I don't think. I think you're probably
the only person that I've heard say.
Speaker 6 (24:07):
This bringing up buses. You know, when I was going
to school, wasn't on such things.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Well, that was the day the schools were neighborhood schools
and it's gonna walk to school. But now people are
school Sometimes, I know Ross Elementary there are students coming
from Tullahoma riding a bus from Tulahoma to Ross because
of the redistricting and all of that. So it's not
as simple as that what you're saying. I appreciate your comment,
(24:37):
but it's really not that simple, uh, to do it
that way logistically, it is not.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Thank you, thank you, I'm forgiven. Let's go back to
another caller. Don't believe go on you on the radio?
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Your turn? Yeah, I do all I can. Yes, sir,
you're on the radio.
Speaker 8 (24:54):
Clyde, the stool board members, I'm making more money than
the teachers.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Yeah, I just think that's unfair. Mhm.
Speaker 8 (25:07):
The teachers spend quality time with these kids. The teachers
don't through a lot of changes with these kids because, uh,
they get close to them. Uh, they know they in
and out, uh, and they'd be another get the talent again?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
All right, class, I appreciate the coming. Duly noted it.
Let's take another calling double the money on the radio?
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Your turn?
Speaker 9 (25:30):
Yeah, hey this Michael stop?
Speaker 4 (25:33):
How you doing? Michael? All right, that's on your mind.
Speaker 9 (25:37):
I won't say how to your sister too. How you doing,
Jordanica Bell?
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, yeah, my sister yeah in in Vecas yeah, yeah,
thank you.
Speaker 9 (25:46):
I got this strange concept.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I got this.
Speaker 9 (25:49):
Strange concept out been throwing around in my head. I
think kids can teach other each other a lot in
a classroom sitting because most kids are other kids stuff
and they understand it from another kid. I'm sire iaid
I saw said that word. They'd be saying I'm saying
(26:09):
the wrong word for Chuarren and I were. But that's
my idea. Yeah, yeah, they didn't help a teacher and
a couple of teachers assistants, and I think you a
lot of that. First, they'll learned how to get along
with one another in the class room setting number one,
And that's part of the problem.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
Too.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
I forget words, Michael.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Shout out to my sister in Vegas and thanks for
your comment. You have words. Ms Rivers.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
I agree with that. My last class I retired in
twenty twenty three from Downtown Elementary, and my students were
very self sufficient. They could they operated my technology. I
remember one day the internet was down in the building
and I kept saying why they saying that my internet
is working, and my student had put me on his
hot spot got me up and going. So you're absolutely right.
(26:59):
The kids, uh do well working with each other and
they can learn a lot from each other. And as
far as technologies, teachers and be really if you were
like me in the classroom not a verse in technology.
I relied on my students. So you are absolutely right,
and thank you for your comments.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
Thanks so much for that.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Saking another caller if you don't miss Rivers w D
I go on to get the radio with Dolores Rivers,
Interim executive director of the Memphishim County Education Association.
Speaker 4 (27:23):
You're there, Yes, good morning, dis aj.
Speaker 10 (27:30):
When I uh within the seventh grade, uh my pe
teacher with named Luke. When that's the same person, what
school was out Virginia High.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Yes, that was my dad.
Speaker 10 (27:46):
Yeah, he was our basketball coach.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
Yes, I have a question. My tax prepared.
Speaker 10 (27:53):
Told me that when Trump took over a protherident of
the United States, that he cut the uh the teachers,
uh uh, he cut the stuff that they could write off.
You know anything about that, the teachers breaking to write
out certain things when they did.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Detective heard anything about that. Nobody has brought that to
my attention, so I am not aware of that presently.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
Okay.
Speaker 10 (28:21):
And one thing that stuck stuck with me when I
was in high school, if I band directed at car
but he told us the whole band, don't be a
school teacher, and I was either said, y'all, do not
be a school teacher. He didn't explain anything, but I
sort of saw him and.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Had something to do with the pay and the work.
Speaker 10 (28:41):
Okay, y'all have a good morning.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
You said Carver was the hermit ranking.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
No, No, that was Ozzy Smith.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
He sure was.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure in variable's coming to play when
he mentioned that, when he said that, you never know,
thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
I gotta take a break up against a break right now.
Up his Rivers, if you don't mind before we go
to break this, WDI listener writes to me in the
email uh in the subject space, good morning, Executive Director
Rivers and stand hats off to MS Rivers and your
prestigious position. I've always loved the work of the Teachers Association.
I'm now a member of the Memphis Retired Teachers Association.
(29:17):
Could you explain the split if that's the word?
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Is there split going on? Teacher?
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, I didn't think that was a split on that,
but that could you explain the split? But is there
a difference or is when you're retired.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Retire you have to go to you become a member
of the Retired Teachers Association because we in your pay
duest go.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Take a break. That's how we get down. Everybody, just
a free a few minutes after the top of the hour.
I appreciate everybody being here. Get ready for a long
holiday weekend, ready for Labor Day and of course September first,
not on one day in Memphis.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Wait, I can hidly wait.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
All right, let's get back to our special guest and
the phone lines double D I gorning and thanks for waiting.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
You're on the radio. Who's next.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, good Friday morning. Stand bare to you,
miss Cox, and good morning to you, Miss River. I
just called to tell you I know your dad, your
dad and I used to lyne then but on now
(30:22):
and your dad was a line dancer and he was
and he would wear them big ten gallon hat.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
Ye his.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
And he was such a nice guy.
Speaker 8 (30:36):
He was.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
He was a very nice, warm, welcoming person.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
And you know he's really miss really really missed.
Speaker 5 (30:46):
But I want to also say that I think teachers
are sold the word I'm trying to say. They don't
get they don't get to respect, they don't get to
pay and the acknowledgement that they deserve. And I know,
you know, as a teacher, teachers are not just teachers.
(31:07):
Teachers do a lot of things. You know, they got
to be social workers, they got to be a lot
of cases, they got.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
To be the parents.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
You know, they take on a parimal role during the
course of the school there and I don't think they
get the admiration that they deserve. They don't definitely don't
get to pay, and they need more support in the classrooms.
I think that's a big problem with learning. You know,
(31:41):
in the elementary grade that you know, they don't have
the teachers aids that they used to have back in
the day.
Speaker 6 (31:48):
So I under stain, but.
Speaker 5 (31:52):
My teachers, I put them on a pedestal because all
of us, all of the knowledge that we have, the
teachers gave it to us. That the teachers were our
foundation by our careers, whatever we grew up and became,
you know, the foundation was laid by teachers. So teachers
(32:15):
are so important. And I think you all deserve six figures.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
You are I do too, ms Cox. You are right
because teachers make all other professions happen. And when you're
a teacher, you come you have a unique skill set
because you have to wear so many hats throughout the
day and when you and you just you just have
to be a leader. You manage people. There's so many
(32:44):
things that you do in a day being a teacher.
You put you're putting out all kinds of fires. So
I appreciate your comments, and I wish that we lived
in the world where people would see that teachers should
at least be baking six.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Last and when you go and when you go home,
your day doesn't end. You still have been have to
do teacher work in addition to taking on your family responsibilities.
So teaching never ends for you all.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
So I'll admire you.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Thank you great.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Weekend, Beverly w d I listener writes MSS Rivers subject
space schools. Rozelle Elementary was year round at one time
and it was excellent.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Yes, and Roseille just got her award. Yes, and we
have one of our board of directors, doctor Alicia Irving,
is over at uh Rozelle. So that's what I was
speaking of. I think people who were working in a
year round school loved it because you got the appropriate
breaks and you and you could just set your schedule
(33:54):
around your breaks. So I think that it was It's
not bad. It may sound.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
Yeah, and the shout out.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
To Rozelle a creative Arts performing is the creative and
performing arts school. Yeah, something about recognition of honor in
the state magnet become a Magnet school or something to
that effect.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
I think doctor tars Hines is the principal. Yeah. Yeah,
that's that's super great.
Speaker 6 (34:18):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yeah, shout out to all folks with Rozell. It's a
team effort. Let's go delicately back to Holdo. Yeah, let's
go delicately back to the phone lives. Yeah, you're run
in schools. That's that's something you really to ponder about
in the study.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
That thing.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
All right?
Speaker 2 (34:31):
No, okay, now mu hold on for the phones a
little bit. Uh, let's talk about your vision. Why let
you get out of here. You know, every leader must
have a vision, must be on a mission. So Ms
Rivers as interim executive director of the Memphis Shelby County
(34:52):
Education Association, What is your vision?
Speaker 3 (34:56):
I think my vision is this. It's always been. When
I was in the classroom, I always believed in supporting teachers,
strengthening the voice of educators, also ensuring school is a
place where learning is equitable and opportunity driven. So that
(35:21):
is my vision is to continue the work I when
I was in the classroom, when I worked at schools.
If you know me, you know that what I'm doing
advocating for teachers and students is something that I've always done,
so that hasn't changed. I don't switch and flip and flop.
My vision is consistent. I believe in being the voice.
(35:45):
I believe in supporting and that's what I'll continue to do.
And so I'm committed to deeper engagement with educators and
amplifying my advocacy through this role as from executive director
and creating creating spaces where collaboration and not compliance drives change.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
That's a pretty good vision to me. Let's execute it.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
We're going forward, all right, listener writes to me in
the email in the subject space, Miss d Rivers say
good morning. Stand First, let me say thank you for
that MJ tribute this morning in the mix, sending a
good morning and hello to mss Rivers. I do believe
she was my son's kindergarten teach at Double Tree Elementary
years ago, signed Pam Renix.
Speaker 6 (36:35):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Ever, I didn't ever teach kindergarten, but I did teach
at Double Tree, so I could have been his third
grade teacher or his second third grade teacher. Yes, but
I never taught kindergarten, but I wouldn't go lower. Then second.
It take special people to teach, Lord, But you did third, right,
(36:58):
I did second, third at Double Tree?
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Right, you know third is the benchmark, so you're right
in there. All right, thank you for that one as well.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
All right, I think I can up against this last break.
They're gonna wrap things up in the studio with me
this morning. W Dad Listens is the interim executive director
of the Memphis Shelby County Education Association. Miss Rivers the
Lowers Rivers succeeded a familiar name with the district and
school board member Keith Williams, and now she has succeeded him,
(37:29):
and she's often running in this seat as the interim
executive director.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Paff you Bill's be right back. No, that's right. Yeah,
we are the heart and so oh wee yeah, man
a Memphis.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
So I'm talking about men, all right, So when the
waiting moments of the Stan Bill Morning Show, definitely appreciate
everybody everyone who tuned in this morning.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Pretty good show. I hope in your in your eyes
and your ears that.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Kind of stuff, all right, So Memphis shall be kind
of educate association. The interim executive directors in the building
we've been talking to, of course, mister Lorries Rivers, hope
you've enjoyed yourself while you've been here. Sister Rivers, have
your so you got your mic? Oh yeah, your mic'shone. Okay,
(38:19):
So as we kind of you're more than welcome as
we kind of wrap up those of you who may
not have known what Memphis shall be kind of education
association does or is and you know the work. I
hope you're a little bit more enlightened. And they are
a collective voice of members. They promote, advance and protect
(38:40):
quality education, rights and interests of members and learning for
all children. This listener rights, I guess they're part of
alumni too. The Southern in the house is U.
Speaker 4 (38:56):
I listening rights. Go Jags, so the university in the house.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Shout out to your guest, my fellow Jaguar from a
former sg A first vice president, Go Jaggs Denver.
Speaker 4 (39:07):
Wow, he's sent a nice little pic here. He wearing
a pair for Navy. Is that an issue in the
background on the yellow shirt?
Speaker 3 (39:18):
I need a shirt like that.
Speaker 2 (39:21):
Some Paara Fornaire Young from Southern bat in News. All right, Okay,
before you.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
Go, got any shout outs, I do.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
I cannot leave here without shouting out my church, Centenary
United Methodist Church, where Reverend Keith Caldwell is my pastor.
And he's he's big with labor and involved actively in labor.
He's the president of MICHAEH, the Memphis inter I may
(39:50):
say it wrong, but it's Micah and you who are
familiar with Micah and we are having at our church
a labor in the poolpit on Sunday, UH September the seventh,
And once again I have to shout out to my
msse A family, the board of directors who have been
so supportive of me and patient with me as I'm
(40:12):
going through this learning phase of what I'm doing and
understanding more and more. Because it is it's it can
be busy. My day can just be busy. I get
all kinds of calls. It's like somebody's texting me. The
vice president is texting me something about extending the progress
reports and something about I ready something going on with
(40:36):
the I ready, I'm not sure, but Mildred, I will
definitely be looking into that when I go back to
the office, and I just want to just upcoming things
like I will be participating on a panel for the
nine on One Day summit that I thought I was
gonna get to sleep in. But yes, that's Danyelle for
(41:00):
Cookie Jones where the contact people's thank you for that invitation.
Matter of fact, right then, I'm sure you'll be at
the listening session at schools and then I have another
UH engagement while I'll be meeting with Tammy Sawyer on
(41:24):
September the second, and so I've been busy, but like
I said, MSCA, we pride ourselves on being responsive and
helpful and supportive. And so if you would like to join,
we are a professional organization. We represent teachers, substitutes, school nurses,
(41:50):
anybody that deals with the students we represent, and you
can go to our website at ww dot m s
CEA dot org if you want to learn more about joining,
or you can call the office right now and Charlotte
will probably answer the phone and you can talk to
(42:10):
her and our union representative, mister Irmin Booth, and he's
also accessible. You can call me, but I'm right here
with Stan, but I'll get right back to you if
you text me while I'm here. I just heard from
a student pope from East High School and Eric, I
am going to be calling you once I leave here.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
All right, All right then, So it's the interim executive
director of the Mefis Shelvy Kind of Education Association, mister
Laws Rivers in the building.
Speaker 4 (42:42):
Thanks for covering, got some time to be with us
at WDIL and let.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
Me shout out my live sisters that's been sending in emails.
Speaker 7 (42:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I appreciate you guys for listening and it's so your support.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
So thank you.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
And my sister she may be listening, doctor dell over
at university this to do and my kids, so thank
you stand for having me. I appreciate you giving me
this opportunity to share. He's saying, anytime y'all heard this,
s uf y'all hear me every Friday. Y'all know that's
what stands in But thank you.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
All right, No, thank you man, It's been great. Thank you,
Dolores Rivers.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
And I'm hoping that, of course positively speaking, that interim
will be removed permanent executive director.
Speaker 4 (43:29):
How about that? All right?
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Thank you for all that you do, all your team,
your wonderful staff, all of Miss Charlotte.
Speaker 4 (43:35):
Much love to you.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
You got a great president, the team y'all doing some
things as on flicker right, Yes, thank you.
Speaker 3 (43:41):
We're the local union across the way right behind the
Board of Education. We have a facility and let me
just say this, let me shout out one more person.
We do professional development for teachers. We have a great director,
one of our board of directors, Amber Smith, and she
puts together the professional development, and this year we're opening
up to all teachers. Used to just just basically cater
(44:02):
to our members, but we are going to open it
up and so be looking to hear about that soon.
And we just have a lot of wonderful things in store.
We're getting ready to do an empowerment breakfast. Our team
is getting ready to do some team building exercises with
our ars. So we are up and running. And if
(44:26):
you would like to be a part of something great,
just go to the website and join.
Speaker 4 (44:34):
That's it, all right, thanks so much all.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Before I get out of here, don't you This is
a payday weekend, I believe for most.
Speaker 4 (44:40):
Listen to me.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Get your tickets to our anniversary celebration seventy seven years young.
Speaker 4 (44:45):
Yes, we are WDIA.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
Go to my WDA dot com get your tickets for
our anniversary concert celebration. This would be a good time
to do so, so we'll see you November twenty one.
Also nine on one Day is going on. It's a
lot happening this long holiday weekend. Uh, and I want
you to be a part of it. Just come on
be downtown. That's what actually gonna be on Monday, nine
old one Day.
Speaker 4 (45:06):
Here in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
We're gonna be hanging out the Western Hotel and Downtown Memphis,
right there across the FedEx Forum. We're gonna be on
the inside. We got some live broadcasts. We are excited
about that as well. We'll be hanging out all day long.
On Monday, you'll see me somewhere dealing with a night
on one day. And my other thank you is we'll
go to those who set in this this week for
BEV Monday. As you know, the Reverend, doctor Keith Norman
(45:31):
and Porscha set in on Tuesday. Porscha Stevens Wednesday was
cursed in Cheersday, the outstanding job everybody. Thursday, the one
and only Professor Emeritis University of Memphis, Professor Otis Sanford.
And today sitting in for the Queen, the CBS star
Bev Johnson. Sitting in for Bev is Gail Jones Carson,
(45:54):
the Great GJC will be in the air chair at eleven.
Speaker 4 (45:57):
Thank you, wd I listens, thank you so much. He's
on and poppin'.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
It's the Stan Belle Morning Show weekdays from six to
ten am on the Heart and Soul of Memphis ten
seventy wd IA
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