A Message from the LMS Board of Directors

Dear Partners and Supporters,

As you may have learned, our CEO, Sam O'Bryant, will be stepping down from his role effective November 29, 2024, to pursue another opportunity that aligns well with his personal and professional aspirations.

Since joining Literacy Mid-South in August 2021, Sam has made an incredible impact, transforming the organization from a local program to a regional literacy intermediary. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we extend our deepest gratitude to Sam O'Bryant for his leadership and dedication to Literacy Mid-South. Under his guidance, the organization has reached new heights in its mission to improve literacy in our region. While we are saddened to see him go, we wholeheartedly support him in his new endeavors and wish him nothing but success. His legacy here will continue to inspire us as we move forward.

We will soon begin the search for a new permanent CEO. In the interim, John Nichols, Chair of the Board, will step in to lead the organization in a full-time capacity as it continues to provide literacy resources, convene partners, and raise awareness.

John Nichols brings over a decade of experience in both education and nonprofit leadership. A 2010 graduate of Rhodes College, John began his career with Teach For America, teaching in Chicago Public Schools. He then joined The Soulsville Charter School as a teacher and a College and Career Counselor. John is the Director of Global Education at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, where he established Memphis’s only multi-division Global Education Department, coordinating international trips and overseeing the school’s Global Diploma Program. In addition to his professional work, John is deeply committed to serving his community. He has served on the Board of Directors for Literacy Mid-South and has been an adult program volunteer since 2019. John also serves on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) and the Buntyn Preschool Parent Board.

Please join us in thanking Sam for his extraordinary leadership and wishing him the best in his future endeavors. We look forward to continuing the incredible work Literacy Mid-South has been known for under the capable leadership of our dedicated team.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors
Literacy Mid-South