Decatur County Educator Selected for WestStar Leadership Class

The University of Tennessee at Martin on November 20, 2025 announced the WestStar Leadership Program Class of 2026, following a welcome meeting held on November 10. The program brings together community and civic leaders from across West Tennessee for a year long curriculum of learning sessions and retreats. Decatur County is represented by Amanda Creasy, director of Extended Learning, Resources and Partnerships for the Decatur County Board of Education.

This year s class includes 33 participants from 16 counties. Sessions will explore the humanity of leadership, education, community development and tourism, with an opening retreat scheduled for December 11 and December 12. The program will conclude with a graduation event planned for June 16, 2026 at UT Martin. Organizers have provided contact information on the UT Martin website for anyone seeking more details about WestStar.

For Decatur County residents the selection of Creasy carries practical implications. In her role with the Board of Education she oversees extended learning and partnership initiatives that touch after school programming, tutoring and connections with local organizations. Participation in regional leadership training can expand networks, introduce new strategies for collaboration and create avenues for securing resources that directly support students and families in a rural county.

Beyond education the program s focus areas intersect with public health and equity. Community development and tourism sessions may equip local leaders to think holistically about economic opportunity, access to services and the social determinants of health that shape outcomes in small towns. Strengthening leadership capacity across counties can improve coordination between schools, health providers and social service agencies, and can amplify advocacy for policies that address longstanding disparities.

WestStar s model of bringing regional leaders together also aims to build cross county relationships that can accelerate problem solving on issues that do not stop at municipal boundaries. For Decatur County that could mean better shared transportation planning, coordinated workforce development efforts and collaborative grant seeking that benefits multiple communities at once.

The announcement published by WBBJ on November 20, 2025 notes the program s timeline and participants. Residents interested in following the class activities or learning how local leaders will apply lessons in Decatur County can find contact information for WestStar on the UT Martin website. The community now has several months before the opening retreat to anticipate potential projects and partnerships that may arise from the training, with graduation marking the culmination of the program in June 2026.