MEMPHIS — One of the unions representing Memphis-Shelby County Schools teachers, which is led by new school board member Keith Williams, is suing the district claiming it failed to supply teachers with proper contracts.

Though not named specifically in the lawsuit, Williams is also the executive director of the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association, which is one of the parties. The three other people named in the suit are MSCS teachers who are members of the union and each serve on the union's board.

The suit was filed in Shelby County Chancery Court on Aug. 16, less than two weeks after Williams was elected among a crowded race to the school board for District 6, which represents Whitehaven. In addition to the district as a whole, the suit is filed against Joris Ray, who was the superintendent on paid leave at the time. Ray no longer works for MSCS.

M-SCEA, Williams' union, has pointed to ongoing litigation against the district in telling its members to not support an active effort to bargain a new teacher contract or employment agreement. This agreement is a separate governing document from the individual employment contracts teachers sign, which are the subject of the suit.

Williams did not immediately respond when asked to clarify that the ongoing litigation is the suit over the individual teacher contracts.

The circumstances highlight Williams' interests and loyalties. As a union director, he is responsible for an organization whose primary goal is protecting...

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