Senator Brent Taylor, a member of the Tennessee State Senate, posted several messages on his Twitter account on April 29, 2026, addressing education and political topics relevant to West Tennessee.
In a post from April 29, 2026, Taylor criticized Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris for not focusing on students or their families when discussing educational reforms. He wrote: “CHILDREN never get mentioned! Litigious Lee Harris never mentions students or their families when challenging our attempts to fix educational outcomes in Memphis (despite the fact 75% of the students graduating from MSCS can’t even read at grade level)! Fitting!” The tweet highlights concerns about reading proficiency among graduates of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), referencing that only one in four students are able to read at grade level.
Later that day, Taylor expressed opposition to themed commemorations in schools or public life. On April 29, 2026, he stated: “We don’t need virtue-signaling ‘Heritage Months.'”
In another message posted the same day, Taylor reached out to Representative Johnny Garrett regarding potential candidates for Congress from West Tennessee. He tweeted: “Hey Johnny – Got any ideas on who would make a great Republican Congressman from West TN to join Rep. Kustoff? @JohnnyGarrett”
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has previously been involved in legal and policy debates concerning education reform efforts in Memphis. Discussions about literacy rates have become prominent as state officials and local leaders debate strategies for improving student outcomes in districts such as MSCS.
Senator Brent Taylor represents parts of Shelby County and has made education reform a central issue during his tenure.
