Towanna Murphy

Towanna Murphy is a multi-hyphenated talent, life-long community activist, and passionate educator for 15 years. Her career has taken her around the world, yet she has called Memphis her home for the past 19 years.

Since being in Memphis, Ms. Murphy has founded #Project Let Read, the “Free The First” Movement and became the founder/CEO of WDEM Radio 98.5FM. Towanna Murphy is Stellar Award Nominated, a Stone Award Honoree and a Mtenzi Award Recipient. She is also a member of the National Head Start Association. From 2019-2020 she served as Policy Council President, overseeing a 24 million dollar budget, for Porter Leath and Shelby County Schools.

However, teaching children is Towanna's passion. It has been her 18 year journey with navigating the MSCS system that has fueled her passion to help all children, like hers, with special needs. She is now ready to take action for all of the children of the Shelby County School District - 7. Towanna will focus on 1) School Safety, 2) Special Education and Exceptional Learners, 3) Student Preparedness and 4) Service Partnerships.

• Mental Health focusing on the emotional needs of our children.
• Education Providing the proper learning materials for each children to learn and grow successfully. Implementing after schools tutoring classes to get our children back on track with reading and writing.
• School Safety A child can't learn in a hostile environment. I want our children to be safe. Having Safety in our schools will provide a Great learning experience.

The safety of our children. Having a safe learning environment will crate. Positive change.

I look up to my mom. She showed me how to become a woman and hard work pays off. I watched her work 3 jobs to take care of 6 children and we didn't go a day without food on the table. No matter how tired she was she pressed through. My mom is my shero my everything.

The first historical event was my trip to Africa! I was 20 years old.

I worked at Berger King for 2 months. They fired me because I lied about my age. I was 15 at the time, I just wanted a job!

Wonder Women I want to save the world. I use to think I could.

Phil Collins The Air of the night.

I am always out in my community speaking with the parents. The one thing I've learned when speaking with the parents is that their concerns are: keeping their children safe, learning materials and programs to keep our children engaged. I plan on continuing to meet with the parents on a monthly basis and hear their concerns. Running for school board is to enhance the tools I need to be of service not just to the parents, but to the community.