The University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program announced its WestTeach Class of 2026, the eighth cohort of the WestTeach program.
WestTeach is a function of the WestStar Leadership Program and was created to support the development of teachers and instructors in the 21 counties of West Tennessee. WestTeach was created as a class project by the 2017 WestStar Leadership class.
The WestTeach mission is to engage and equip West Tennessee teachers with tools and leadership skills for success in and outside the classroom.
A new class of elementary, middle and high school teachers and instructors is selected annually by the program’s advisory council following open applications and approved by school superintendents and principals. West Tennessee teachers selected for the program learn about the region’s economic needs and opportunities.
Applicants must be K-12 teachers who aspire to be leaders in their schools and communities. They should be have approval by their director/superintendent of schools. Selection is also based on leadership and potential to contribute to the region’s educational system.
There are 16 participants in the WestTeach Class of 2026, which includes:
• Kamala Armour, Ripley Primary School, Lauderdale County School District.
• Lynette Billington, Covington High School, Tipton County School System.
• Belinda Davis, W.G. Rhea Elementary School, Paris Special School District.
• Richard Dawson, Halls High School, Lauderdale County School District.
• Adrian Doaks, Stigall Primary School, Humboldt City School District.
• Gina Dycus, Bradford High School, Bradford Special School District.
• Bentley Gordon Irby, Fifth Consolidated Elementary School, Dyer County Schools.
• Erin Lewis, West Carroll Junior/Senior High School, West Carroll Special School District.
• Justin McElroy, Henry School, Henry County Schools.
• Porsha Milan, Rutherford Elementary School, Gibson County Special School District.
• Stephanie Pate, Bradford High School, Bradford Special School District.
• Kyle Rogers, Westview High School, Weakley County Schools.
• Whitney Sanders, Dyersburg Middle School, Dyersburg City School District.
• Abby Smithson, Greenfield School, Weakley County Schools.
• Mindy Thomas, Westview High School, Weakley County Schools.
• Kizzy Young, Covington High School, Tipton County School System.
Over the previous seven classes, 140 area teachers and administrators have graduated from the WestTeach program.
The Class of 2026 will meet five times during the fall semester, starting with the opening session and orientation Aug. 27-28 at UT Martin. The cohort will have classes Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Jackson; Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Dyersburg; and Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Tipton County. The graduation banquet will be held Tuesday, Dec. 15, at UT Martin.
The Virginia Grimes WestTeach Leadership Award is voted on by classmates at the end of the program’s term for the most outstanding class member. The award was begun with the Class of 2024 following Grimes’ retirement from the program.
Dr. Jamie Mantooth, the university’s executive director for strategic leadership, serves as the WestTeach coordinator. UT Martin Chief of Staff Jake Bynum serves as the WestStar executive director, and Jennifer Smiley is the WestStar assistant director.
For more information about the WestTeach program, visit www.utm.edu/westteach. For information about the WestStar Leadership Program, visit www.utm.edu/weststar. Information for both programs can be obtained by calling 731-881-7298.
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: Cody Williams, a teacher at Dyer County High School, was named by fellow class members to receive the Virginia Grimes WestTeach Leadership Award as the outstanding member of the WestTeach Class of 2025. Members of the WestTeach Class of 2026 were announced by the UT Martin WestStar Leadership Program.
