Decatur County Schools holds in-service day to boost supports

On January 5, Decatur County Schools convened teachers and staff at Riverside High School for a district-wide in-service day designed to sharpen classroom supports and tend to employee health as the district began the second half of the 2025-26 school year. The morning session included a welcome breakfast funded by a UTrust Employee Appreciation Grant and district updates from Director of Schools Melinda Thompson.

Professional development was led by Dr. Allison Oliver of Austin Peay State University and focused on behavioral learning and support strategies intended to give educators practical tools to create more positive learning environments. After the morning session, staff returned to their schools to collaborate on Pathways assessments, analyze end-of-course data, conduct targeted data chats focused on the bottom 25 percent of students, and participate in collaborative planning and faculty meetings.

UT Health provided free health screenings for staff during the in-service, offering blood pressure checks, blood glucose testing, and weight measurements. Those screenings aim to reduce barriers to preventive care for school employees, enabling early identification of common risk factors such as hypertension and elevated blood glucose that can affect long-term health and day-to-day job performance.

The combination of targeted professional learning and on-site health services carries multiple implications for the county. Instructionally, the emphasis on behavioral support and focused work on EOC and Pathways data seeks to close achievement gaps by directing resources to students most in need. Prioritizing the bottom 25 percent indicates a data-driven approach to equity, but sustaining progress will require ongoing time, training, and funding for interventions that reach students outside the classroom as well.

From a public health and workforce perspective, routine health screenings for staff can help address chronic disease risk and reduce absenteeism, which in turn supports classroom continuity for students. Providing those services on-site lowers access barriers for employees who may face transportation, scheduling, or cost obstacles in seeking care.

The district posted details about the day on the Decatur County Schools live feed. As the county moves into the remainder of the school year, the in-service underscores the links between educator supports, student outcomes, and community health. Continued coordination among school leaders, health providers, and funders will be important to translate one-day efforts into sustained improvements for students and staff across Decatur County.