Dr. Amanda Creasy named to UT Martin WestStar Class of 2026

Decatur County Schools could gain more than a line on a résumé from Dr. Amanda Creasy’s selection to UT Martin’s WestStar Leadership Program. The appointment gives the district a leader with broader West Tennessee connections, training in public policy and community development, and a place in a network that can shape school decisions affecting local families.

District leaders treated the announcement as a sign of Creasy’s reach beyond Decatur County. Director of Schools Melinda Thompson said Creasy was a strong fit for WestStar because she is community-minded and looks for ways to help others, and Thompson also said her commitment to students, teachers and community members is unmatched. In a small county system, that kind of recognition can matter because the decisions that affect classrooms often depend on relationships outside the school office.

UT Martin says WestStar is designed to educate, engage and empower a diverse group of community-minded leaders who collaborate, lead and serve to create positive change in West Tennessee. The program requires full participation from selected members, and one of its biggest benefits is the chance to learn alongside other class members and people shaping the region’s future. The Class of 2026 included 33 participants from 16 West Tennessee counties.

The class had a welcome meeting and reception on Nov. 10, 2025. Its opening retreat was set for Dec. 11-12, 2025, with seven more learning sessions covering topics that included the humanity of leadership, education, public policy, regionalism, and community development and tourism. Graduation was scheduled for June 16, 2026, at UT Martin in Martin.

For Decatur County, the payoff could be practical over the next two years. A school leader with WestStar training may be better positioned to build partnerships, understand state and regional policy shifts, and bring back ideas that help with staffing, funding, student support and community collaboration. If Decatur County Schools needs to coordinate a response to a student support need that stretches from the classroom to family services, or to navigate a staffing challenge with county partners, those WestStar connections could make the difference.

UT Martin describes WestStar as the largest and oldest regional leadership program in Tennessee. A 2023 report said it had 945 graduates and was then welcoming its 34th class, underscoring how closely the program is tied to leadership across West Tennessee. For Decatur County Schools, Creasy’s selection was both a personal honor and a chance to strengthen the district’s voice in the region.