Roderick F. Richmond, Ed. D

Dr. Roderick Richmond is currently the Executive Director of Student Support Services. He is responsible for driving multi-year strategic planning practices for student support services, management of extracurricular offerings, development of consistent district-wide school operation strategies, and the enforcement of accountability and control measures.

Transitioning from a two-decade career as a legacy Memphis City Schools educator and administrator, Dr. Richmond joined the Shelby County Schools district during the summer of 2013-2014. He served as Chief Academic Officer following the July 1, 2013 merger of Shelby County Schools (SCS) and Memphis City Schools (MCS). Prior to assuming the role of CAO, he served as Co-chair of the Transition Steering Committee, which was responsible for overseeing one of the largest school mergers in the history of public education. During his tenure as Chief Academic Officer for the 2013-14 school year, Dr. Richmond celebrated the District achieving 10 of its 11 Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOS), 39 schools being identified as Reward Schools, a reduction in the number of priority schools from 69 to 50, and garnering a ‘Level 5’ rating for student growth (the highest score awarded by the State of Tennessee for growth).

Previously, Dr. Richmond also served as Deputy Superintendent and Chief of School Operations for legacy Memphis City Schools. For three consecutive years, legacy MCS earned a ‘Level 5’ rating for student growth under Dr. Richmond’s leadership. Achievement scores improved in most subject categories and grade levels. He has also led improvement efforts with the district’s high priority schools. As a result, for several years the Nationally Recognized Innovation Zone (iZone), the district’s analog to the state’s Achievement School District, proficiency scores increased at a higher rate than the state in all four core subject areas. Major improvements across Math, Science, and Social Studies were highlighted.

Dr. Richmond has:

• Helped to reduce chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, and office discipline referrals district-wide.
• Supervised the district’s turnaround effort through the Innovation Zone, which is a Nationally Recognized Model for the country.
• Managed the Scope of Work for major elements of the “First to the Top” legislation and the district’s “Teacher and Leader Effectiveness.”
• Developed, led, and assembled a high diverse performing team and aligned performance measures/goals.
• Moved 20 of 25 high-priority schools (80%) into an improved state accountability status or off the state identified list (NCLB).
• Served as the district’s liaison to the Achievement School District and Co-chaired the Transition Steering Committee for the merger of Memphis City and Shelby County Schools.
• Supported Booker T. Washington High School in their selection as the 2011 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge winner, entitling it to a graduation address by President Obama.
• Recognized as Principal and School of the Year in 2007

Prior to his service as a district leader, Dr. Richmond served as Principal of Ross Elementary School and Ridgeway Middle School. Dr. Richmond earned his Ed. D. in Educational Leadership from Union University, as well as the Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Supervision. Dr. Richmond holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi, a Bachelor of Science in English from Tennessee State University, and has participated in the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP) at Harvard University and the TSBA Prospective Superintendent’s Academy.

Dr. Richmond is a proud product of Memphis City Schools. He has served the Shelby County/Memphis Community for over three decades in education and has had the privilege of mentoring numerous teachers and administrators. Dr. Richmond is married and has two sons.