MARTIN, Tenn. – Stacy Jones might say that she’s had a fall season to remember.
The McNairy Central High School English faculty member was named the school’s 2025-26 Teacher of the Year in September. On Dec. 13, the veteran educator received her Doctor of Education degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville.
Jones then completed a trifecta of achievements Dec. 16 when she graduated along with her 27 classmates from the University of Tennessee at Martin’s WestTeach Program. The graduation reception, dinner and program were held in the Boling University Center’s Duncan Ballroom.
WestTeach was created as a class project by the 2017 WestStar Leadership Program 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 and take this knowledge back to their classrooms.
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 139 teachers who have completed the program since it began.
The 28-member class, the largest since the program began, included K-12 teachers from 14 West Tennessee counties and 19 school districts. The class met through the fall in four daylong sessions starting in August.
“I was drawn to WestTeach because it focuses on practical leadership and real change, especially in rural communities like mine,” Jones said in an interview before the graduation event. “It (WestTeach) emphasizes leadership that strengthens schools and communities, which aligns closely with my work in literacy and relationship-based change.”
Participating with fellow West Tennessee educators made the experience even more meaningful.
“Learning with colleagues facing similar realities really made conversations more honest and practical, and it reinforced the value of collaborative leadership across schools and communities,” she said.
Jones’ teaching experience and personal educational achievements provide personal insights that she said will help newer teachers to succeed.
“My advice is to focus first on relationships and growth,” Jones said. “Set high expectations but be patient with yourself and your students.
“Stay reflective, always keep learning, and be open to progress and change, and ultimately remember that even simple but consistent progress – both for you and your students – is what ultimately leads to lasting success.”
Jones joined other WestTeach classmates, superintendents and principals, family members and friends at the dinner and graduation. Those attending also included 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. Brock Martin (R-District 79) of Huntingdon was the evening’s featured speaker.
Mantooth, Bynum and Freeman each welcomed the group. In his comments, Freeman referenced a Mark Twain quote that highlighted the importance of identifying purpose in life.
“Mark Twain once said that the two most important days are the day that you were born and the day you figure out why,” Freeman said. “We are so thankful that your ‘why’ has led you to education, to teach, to have you in the classroom and to pour so much into our young folks.”
DR. BROCK MARTIN SPEAKS
Martin and his wife, Krista, are chiropractors and own and operate Southern Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Camden and Huntingdon. He’s a 2016 WestStar Leadership Program graduate, has served in the Tennessee General Assembly since 2022 and is chair of the health subcommittee.
In his remarks, Martin covered three things he’s learned during his three years in public service, all of which he said apply to education. Both of his parents were longtime public school teachers, so he identifies with the challenges faced by teachers.
Martin recommended first to find ways to serve in the community. He credited the advice to a meeting many years back with the late Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley, and he’s worked to step out of his comfort zone ever since.
“You guys are in this program because you’ve already done that once. You’ve already stepped out,” he said. “You’ve taken that step to lead in your community and in your schools, but I also challenge you in that regard to always look for more ways to serve or whatever that might be.”
He next reminded the audience that “words matter.” He told about a meeting with the couple’s minister before he and his wife were married.
“Just always remember, words matter,” the minister told the couple. “They can build you up, they can tear you down. They can build bridges. They can burn bridges, and in your world (as educators), that makes a difference as well.
“Words matter.”
Martin referenced James 1:19 in the Bible that urges people to, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and even slower to anger.”
He spoke of the attention that his son receives at home daily after school from his family, but he recognizes that some children don’t receive that same level of attention.
“But they get you (educators) for six or eight hours a day, where you can be the one that builds them up and gives them that opportunity and gives them that chance.”
His third and final point focused on the late Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker who said, “Always keep in mind that the other fellow might be right.” That advice is the inspiration for the “You Might Be Right” podcast’s title, a production offered by the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy. The podcast features former Tennessee governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam.
Martin engages people in many situations as a health-care provider in West Tennessee and in Nashville discussing policy as a state representative. He said that Baker’s advice rings true no matter the conversation.
“When I’m in conversation here in my health-care clinic or in policy in Nashville – it’s always remember – that person sitting across from you has opinions and values, and he might be right, too.”
The graduating class
In addition to honoring the program graduates, 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 2025 class member. The award recognizes outstanding leadership qualities exhibited during the class member’s time in the program. (more)
The 28 members of the 2025 class and their schools are Bryce Agee, Milan High School, Milan; Kathryn Arnold, Spring Hill School, Trenton; Leslie Booker, West Carroll Junior/Senior High School, Atwood; Kavin Carr, Dyersburg High School, Dyersburg; Alex Cochran, Bradford Special School District, Bradford; Tracey Conrad, Drummonds Elementary School, Drummonds; Laura Dyer, Lexington Middle School, Lexington; Cassie Elliott, Middleton Elementary School, Middleton; Lilah Hall-Norell, Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School, Jackson; Michelle Huffstutter, Union City High School, Union City; Hailey Johnson, Fifth Consolidated Elementary School, Dyersburg; Dr. Stacy Jones, McNairy Central High School, Selmer; Crystal Lock, Finley Elementary School, Finley; Kendra Lownsdale, Obion County Central High School; Troy; Libby Lynch, Humboldt High School, Humboldt; Natoshia Mancini, South Side High School, Jackson; Bailey McAlister, Haywood Elementary School, Brownsville; Alivia McDowell, Gleason School, Gleason; Beth Anne Overholt, Dresden High School, Dresden; Sunni Pack, Westview High School, Martin; Michelle Robinson, West Caroll Special School District, Atwood; Dr. Patrick Smith, Brighton High School, Brighton; Virginia Vego, Tipton-Rosemark Academy, Millington; Lauren Wallis, Chester County Junior High School, Henderson; Cody Williams, Dyer County High School, Newbern; Summer Willis, Covington High School, Covington; Elaina Wood, E.W. Grove Freshman Academy at Henry County High School; and Courtney York, East Side Elementary School, Brownsville.
The Leaders Education Foundation is the program’s signature sponsor. Other WestTeach sponsors include ATA CPAs – Advisors; Yvette Blue, The Acceleration Coach, LLC; SIC Project Management; Tennessee District of the TRANE Company; Cary and Lalania Vaughn of Millington; the Community Foundation of West Tennessee; and Dr. Cheryl Browne.
Learn more about WestTeach at www.utm.edu/westteach .
Photo– Members of the seventh WestTeach graduating class are (back row, from left), Dr. Patrick Smith, Alex Cochran, Cody Williams, Crystal Lock, Sunni Pack, Michelle Huffstutter, Summer Willis, Elaina Wood, Tracy Conrad, Lauren Wallis, and Dr. Jamie Mantooth-WestTeach coordinator; (middle row, l-r) Jennifer Smiley-WestStar Leadership Program assistant director, Kendra Lownsdale, Leslie Booker, Bryce Agee, Kathryn Arnold, Jenny Vego, Laura Dyer, Lilah Hall-Norell, Courtney York, Hailey Johnson, and Kavin Carr; (seated, l-r) Cassie Elliott, Toshia Mancini, Libby Lynch, Alivia McDowell, Beth Anne Overholt, Dr. Stacy Jones and Bailey McAlister. (Not pictured is Michelle RobinPhson.)