MARTIN, Tenn. – Dyer County High School teacher Mary Greer was raised in a Southern Illinois family of educators and has taught school for 17 years. Even with her background and experience, her participation in the University of Tennessee at Martin WestTeach program allowed Greer to expand her knowledge base that will benefit DCHS students now and after they complete high school.
Greer graduated Dec. 17 as a member of the sixth WestTeach class during a reception and dinner held in the Duncan Ballroom of the Boling University Center. She was also named by fellow class members during the event to receive the first Virginia Grimes WestTeach Leadership Award as the outstanding 2024 class member.
WestTeach was created as a class project by the 2017 WestStar Leadership class to support teacher development. A new class is selected annually by the program’s advisory council following nominations by school superintendents and directors. West Tennessee teachers selected for the program learn about the region’s economic needs and opportunities.
Each class also meets with regional industry and community leaders to learn more about what students might experience outside the classroom, in the workplace and beyond. This year’s class brings the total to 111 teachers who have completed the program since it began. As she was introduced during the graduation ceremony, Humbolt High School teacher Chandra Maclin was acknowledged as WestTeach’s 100th graduate.
The 23-member class represented 14 West Tennessee counties and met through the fall in four daylong sessions starting in August. Class members included educators who teach Pre-K to 12th grade, with teaching experience ranging from one to more than 20 years. Teaching specialties among class members covered subjects from computer science, math and reading to marketing and media.
Greer teaches driver’s education and finds common ground with her WestTeach classmates.
“It was refreshing to hear my struggles and hardships are the same, even though our districts might vary in every way possible,” she said. “It was most rewarding to then see how each district is tackling these hardships. We were transparent and willing to share our ideas and successes.”
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Greer said students will ultimately benefit from the class’s WestTeach experience.
“Now that I’ve gone through the WestTeach program, I feel better equipped as a teacher to tell our high school students what our area has for them: upcoming job opportunities, our newest and greatest resources, and connections to those pathways and dreams,” she said. “ … Whether you have been here all your life or moved into West Tennessee recently, this program will greatly impact your knowledge for your ‘tool belt’ as a teacher.”
In addition to WestTeach classmates, family members and friends, among those attending the event were UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman, UT Martin Chief of Staff and WestStar Executive Director Jake Bynum, and Dr. Jamie Mantooth, the university’s executive director for strategic leadership and WestTeach coordinator. State Rep. Mark White (R-District 83) of Memphis was the evening’s featured speaker.
Bynum, Mantooth and Freeman each welcomed the group following the reception. In his comments, Freeman referenced one of his favorite books titled “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Dr. Carol Dweck that illustrates how a “growth mindset” versus a “fixed mindset” drives success.
“I am so excited that we have folks who have the growth mindset, who participated in this program, who are working in our schools in West Tennessee, who are doing the work and engaging in a way that allows you to continue to be successful,” Freeman said. “ … This program is one that we are incredibly proud of.”
White spoke following dinner and before class members were recognized. He has served in the Tennessee General Assembly since 2010 and was reelected to his seat in November. He has been House Education Administration Committee chair for the past 10 years. Besides his work as an elected official, he is director of the Lipscomb University College of Leadership and Public Service.
In his remarks, White covered several critical education-related topics familiar to the teachers present, including Tennessee students’ reading and math proficiency, the impact of social media on young people and addressing the state’s teacher shortage. He then asked for audience questions with the goal to gather information for the 2025 legislative session that begins in January. Following a thoughtful exchange with audience members on some complex and controversial issues, White reminded everyone about the importance of listening carefully to others.
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“Everything we do is conflict. Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Sit down and listen.”
Following the program’s conclusion, White responded to questions about WestTeach and why the program is important.
“Number one, it’s important to encourage them (teachers) and to help them in the classroom because I cannot think of a more important role in society today than the teacher in the classroom,” he said. White also responded why seeing the teachers at WestTeach graduation gives him optimism about the teaching profession.
“As I go across the whole state of Tennessee, I find out that everywhere I go, the teachers are really committed to do what they’re doing,” he said. “They’re there because they love the children.”
The Leaders Education Foundation is the program’s signature sponsor. Other WestTeach sponsors include ATA CPAs – Advisors; Security Bank in Dyersburg; Yvette Blue, The Acceleration Coach, LLC; SIC Project Management; Tennessee District of the TRANE Company; Cary and Lalania Vaughn of Millington; and the Community Foundation of West Tennessee.
Learn more about WestTeach at www.utm.edu/westteach or by calling 731-881-7298.
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Members of the 2024 class are: Rachel Abbott, Peabody High School, Trenton; LaTresa Bond, East Side Elementary School, Brownsville; Asia Childress, Fifth Consolidated Elementary School, Dyersburg; Dana Christian, Hollow Rock-Bruceton Middle School and High School; Michaela Frederick, Sharon School, Sharon; Mary Greer, Dyer County High School, Newbern; Leslie Hallmark, Lexington Middle School, Lexington; Meeka Hayslett, Charger Academy, Covington; Sandy Hodges, Peabody High School, Trenton; Lisa Hubbard, E.W. Grove School, Paris; Mary Katras, JCM-Early College High School, Jackson; Chandra Maclin, Humboldt Junior/Senior High, Humboldt; Jan Mitchell, Greenfield School, Greenfield; Kelly Noel, Halls High School, Halls; Diane Norton, LaGrange Moscow Elementary, Moscow; Stephen Powell, Gibson County High School, Dyer; Noah Rogers, West Carroll Junior/Senior High School, Atwood; Trina Roy, Dyersburg Middle School, Dyersburg; Brandy Tanner, Union City Middle School, Union City; Ginger Taylor, Huntingdon High School, Huntingdon; Tonya Twyman, Chester County Junior High School, Henderson; Aaliyah Williams, Ripley Middle School, Ripley; and Mike Wright, Selmer Elementary School, Selmer.
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Photo Caption
MARTIN, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2024 – WESTTEACH GRADUATES SIXTH CLASS – Members of the sixth WestTeach class graduated from the program Dec. 17 at UT Martin. Pictured are (standing, l-r) Noah Rogers, LaTresa Bond, Meeka Hayslett, Aaliyah Williams, Mary Katras, Lisa Hubbard, Dana Christian, Brandy Tanner, Chandra Maclin, Mike Wright, Stephen Powell, and Mary Greer; (seated, l-r) Kelly Noel, Ginger Taylor, Trina Roy, Asia Childress, Rachel Abbott, Michaela Fredrick, Sandy Hodges, Jan Mitchell, Tonya Twyman and Leslie Hallmark. (Not pictured is Carol Norton.)