MSCS inquiries clear Barker, Martin
Since probes began, each has departed the district
Separate investigations into top Memphis-shelby County Schools officials John Barker and Yolanda Martin found they each committed no wrongdoing, Interim Superintendent Toni Williams announced Friday.
Barker is retiring from the district, and Martin has resigned.
Chief of staff Patrice Thomas took on Barker’s role, which will not be replaced, Williams said. Quintin Robinson is the new chief of human resources, and starts Nov. 28.
“For the integrity of Memphis-shelby County Schools and the legal protection of our staff and students, we must take all grievances seriously. It is equally important, upon completion of any related review or investigation, we clear the names of innocent parties and fully restore their employment status if interrupted,” Williams said Friday.
Barker, the district’s deputy of operations and finance, was accused of raceand sex-based harassment by Martin, the district’s top human resources official. Martin filed an 8-page complaint with several accusations against her supervisor in late August, and Barker was placed on paid leave Sept. 7.
“During the past several weeks, I have been richly blessed by the countless people who have reached out. Never one to rest easy, I rekindled professional relationships and identified exciting new business opportunities while on leave,” Barker said in a statement to The Commercial Appeal.
“Now with the record set straight, I am announcing my retirement from Memphis-shelby County Schools,” he said. “I wish the District and its amazing students all my best for a magnificent
rest of the school year.”
Martin was placed on leave in October amid a separate ongoing investigation. Martin told The Commercial Appeal the investigation found allegations were “unsubstantiated,” but did not share what the allegations were.
Asked by The Commercial Appeal in October, when Martin was placed on leave, MSCS board chair Althea Greene said Martin’s leave was not related to a complaint Martin recently filed about Barker, her supervisor. Greene declined to share more specific information at the time.
“I’m just looking forward to new opportunities, I’ll just say that,” Martin told The Commercial Appeal Friday, adding she was “excited” for next steps she declined to clarify.
“That was ultimately my goal, was to basically clear my name,” Martin said. “...My integrity and my reputation has been impeccable and that is very important to me.”
Investigations began as Ray left helm, Williams began review
At the time Martin filed the complaint, which was first reported by The Commercial Appeal, Barker was coleading the school district alongside Angela Whitelaw, the district’s deputy superintendent of academics. Martin filed the complaint on Aug. 28, within the week after the school board voted for then-superintendent Joris Ray to exit the school district in a package deal that included severance pay and the end of an incomplete external investigation.
The following Tuesday, the board selected the district’s chief financial officer, Williams, to be interim superintendent.
As she took the helm, Williams announced a “business review,” and in late October announced changes to the district, including an external audit of the district’s procurement department. Williams required the procurement department to report to finance instead of business operations.
The top leader of business operations, Genard Phillips, announced his resignation, and Williams announced a new leader for the department as well as two consultants.
Williams also announced Jenikka Oglesby as the deputy chief of human resources, at that time, who will work with new human resources official Robinson, who has worked for the Memphis district in human resources before. Robinson has been the human resources director for the city of Memphis, and has prior experience with Walmart Stores U.S. and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co., the district said Friday.
Who is John Barker?
Barker was first hired by Ray to be chief of staff. By the start of the 2019-20 school year, Barker assumed the deputy superintendent of operations role to replace Lin Johnson.
He began working for Memphis City Schools in 2003 in research and accountability, and was promoted as the head of the department, which oversees student testing, in 2006.
In 2007, The Commercial Appeal reported Barker was one of 25 applicants who applied to be interim superintendent after Carol Johnson left the position and before the district hired Kriner Cash from its last national search.
Barker became chief of staff and a close advisor to Cash before departing for Chicago. where he was named chief of accountability for the public school system in 2012, The Commercial Appeal has reported. Barker returned to the Memphis district with Ray’s administration.
In his role, Barker was a chief organizer of the district’s facilities plan to consolidate schools and propose new ones, as well as spend federal stimulus funds toward hundreds of million of dollars in deferred maintenance. The district has yet to secure needed county funds for new buildings. Barker also orchestrated the district’s COVID-19 testing program through grant funds.
Who is Yolanda Martin?
Martin was recently named the district’s supervisor of the year, and the Tennessee Department of Education recently named her a finalist for the state’s supervisor of the year. Barker wrote her letter of recommendation for the recognition, but Martin said he “has consistently worked to undermine my ability to lead and attempted to compromise my professional reputation.”
Martin previously served as the deputy chief of the human resources department, according to her school district biography. She has more than 18 years of experience in education and has held various positions with the district, including instructional leadership director, principal, assistant principal and teacher.
Martin attended Memphis Central High School and is a U.S. Navy Veteran, according to her biography. She earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in education from Trevecca Nazarene University.
Laura Testino covers education and children’s issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @Ldtestino