Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Marie N. Feagins.
Hi Dr. Marie N., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started as a high school business teacher and coach with a passion for unlocking potential in young people and a strong belief that education should be a launchpad that allows every child to become a success story. I’m a proud Head Start kid who didn’t come from generational privilege or influence, but I did come from a family that valued hard work, faith, and purpose. That foundation carried me through every chapter.
Over time, I moved through the ranks in public education- teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal, district administrator, and eventually superintendent- serving in Birmingham, Detroit, Cleveland, and most recently in Memphis. In each role, I led with a sense of urgency and love. Not a soft, passive love, but a bold, intentional kind that believes children deserve systems that are built to serve them, not fail them.
As superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, I led the largest district in Tennessee, serving over 110,000 students with a $2.1 billion budget and a staff of nearly 13,000. I made tough decisions quickly and transparently because I believe the right work doesn’t wait. Because it can’t.
Beyond the titles and roles, I’ve always seen myself as a builder of systems, opportunities, and leaders. That belief sparked bold initiatives like Next Is Now, Legacy Builders, Next Level Leaders, REACH180, and Take A Seat—an honest conversation about power, purpose, and the price of leadership. It’s where we explore the heat of the seat of power to prepare more leaders for high-stakes, executive-level positions that demand more than credentials; they require conviction, clarity, and courage.
Where I am today is a reflection of discipline, faith, and an unwavering commitment to do work that outlives me. I’m focused on scaling leadership and helping others architect change, not just dream about it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close. The road has been anything but smooth, but every bump, detour, and storm prepared me for the weight of the roles I would one day carry.
I don’t think people always understand the emotional, mental, financial, and physical price of leadership. Leadership is expensive. Before I ever became a superintendent, I recall spending upwards of $25,000 in a single year out of pocket- traveling to conferences, serving on boards, presenting and speaking, and participating in high-level leadership cohorts. I didn’t have the district support needed, but I was determined to deepen my knowledge, learn from colleagues with the same integrity and commitment to the work, and sharpen my perspective in ways that titles alone could never do. I invested in becoming the kind of leader I would one day need myself.
Even early on, it wasn’t easy. I interviewed eleven times before I got my first Assistant Principal role. I’ve received thousands of “no’s” on the road to every “yes.” I’ve walked into rooms where I was the youngest, the only woman, or the only Black person… sometimes all three. I’ve been misunderstood, underestimated, even openly challenged for doing the very work I was hired to lead.
And yet, I stayed the course. I’ve effectively led through crisis and calm, across cities and systems. In Memphis, I stepped into one of the most complex and high-profile educational leadership roles in the country. It came with immense pressure, generational challenges, and a political climate that didn’t always favor truth or transparency. But I never flinched. I made tough decisions at the speed of need with purpose and intentionality, driven by the impact I could make.
This road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been sacred. Every challenge has sharpened my clarity, deepened my courage, and reinforced my calling to lead at the highest levels.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Legacy-level leadership: transforming systems, elevating people, and executing strategy where others stall.
I’m a strategist, a systems thinker, and a builder of leaders. My work sits at the intersection of education, policy, leadership, and public impact. Whether leading school district, coaching senior executives, or architecting bold solutions to decades-old challenges, I lead with urgency, clarity, and heart.
I’m known for delivering real results in complex, high-stakes environments; places that require both sharp execution and deep understanding of people, politics, and purpose. I’ve served in major cities, where literacy and graduation rates improved and massive teams navigated transformational shift with my leadership.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the outcomes, but how I got there. I took the stairs, served in the shadows, honored the trenches. I’m alsp proud to have designed effective leadership programs and pipelines, mentored hundreds of rising professionals, and opened doors for others while carrying the weight of the room.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just lead—I build. I execute. I am not afraid to create what’s needed, shift what’s outdated, and prepare others to rise and take the seat they’ve been told they weren’t made for. I move systems forward without losing sight of the humans inside them.
And at my core, I’m always asking: Who are we preparing to lead next? So right now, I’m focused on helping more people step into power with clarity, courage, and the integrity needed to build a legacy that lasts. Because for me, the real measure of success is how many others I help rise.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Calculate the Cost. Count It All Joy.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that leadership will cost you and you have to decide early on what you’re willing to pay, including if it costs you everything.
There’s a version of leadership that looks good on paper, keeps you safe, and keeps others comfortable. But real leadership, the kind that shifts systems, demands justice, and dares to build something better? That kind will test your stamina, your faith, and your willingness to keep showing up when it’s hard, lonely, or unpopular.
I’ve learned that caring about people, solving issues, and making real progress are heavy weights to carry. That protecting your peace is part of protecting your purpose. And that impact isn’t always visible in the moment, but legacy is built one hard, principled decision at a time.
At every level, I’ve had to choose conviction over convenience. That’s what keeps me grounded, and that’s what keeps me going. And that’s why I can count it all joy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: drmariefeagins
- Facebook: drmariefeagins
- LinkedIn: drmariefeagins
- Twitter: drmariefeagins
