FIRST WESTTEACH CLASS GRADUATES PROGRAM – Members of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s WestTeach class of 2018 graduated from the program during a banquet Jan. 29 at the Madison Downs Venue in Jackson. WestTeach is a teacher-development program created as a class project by the WestStar Leadership Program’s class of 2017. WestTeach members participated in four sessions on West Tennessee agriculture, the humanity of leadership, creating partnerships for economic development and building communities. Members of the 2017 WestStar class have remained engaged with the new program. Pictured are (front row, l-r) Holly Owen, of Dyer County; Cindy Landry, of Henderson County; Franky Hodges, of Gibson County; Beth McManus, of Obion County; Autumn Ratliff, of Benton County; (back row) Dr. Charley Deal, WestStar executive director; Tracy Connell and Lindsey Parham, both of Carroll County; Kimberly Elliott, of Weakley County; Lauren Newell, of Dyersburg; Jill Baker, of Shelby County; Christy Buckelew, of Henry County; and Virginia Grimes, WestStar program coordinator. Not pictured is Todd Alexander, of Hardin County. For more information about WestTeach or the WestStar Leadership Program, contact Grimes at 731-881-7298.

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