Decatur County School System has been honored for its exceptional dedication to employee appreciation, receiving the Best Appreciation Program in West Tennessee award at a statewide meeting in Nashville on Friday.
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The award was presented to Superintendent Chris Villaflor and Hugh Smith, System Coordinator of the Appreciation Program, by Dr. Dan Tollett, Utrust Administrator.
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“Decatur County has set a high standard for making school employees feel valued and supported,” said Dr. Tollett. “Under the strong leadership of Superintendent Villaflor and System Coordinator Smith, each school in the district has excelled in engaging students in recognizing and celebrating the contributions of their staff.”
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Dr. Tollett further commended the district: “This award reflects Decatur County’s outstanding work in cultivating a positive and appreciative environment for both its school staff and its students.”
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Superintendent Villaflor expressed his gratitude, stating, “Everyemployee is a vital part of our school family. Their daily efforts make our schools exceptional places to work and learn. The Utrust program has helped us focus and enhance our appreciation initiatives, ensuring that our staff feels recognized and valued. It’s also important that every student in Decatur County learns to recognize what others do for them each day and express genuine appreciation to them.”
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System Coordinator Hugh Smith emphasized the program’s far-reaching impact: “This initiative not only uplifts our employees,but it also instills important values in our students. We appreciate the adults who provide leadership for this program. Every school in our district has a school coordinator and a staff team thatensures that the program runs smoothly and effectively.”
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As part of the award, Dr. Tollett presented Superintendent Villaflor with a $100 check for each school in Decatur County to support ongoing appreciation efforts.
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Utrust is a statewide organization committed to promoting excellence in employee relations and supporting school districts across Tennessee. In addition to sponsoring the School Appreciation Program, Utrust administers unemployment compensation for local school boards. Over the past eight years, Utrust has provided more than $8 million in mini grants to Tennessee schools, funding critical projects that fall outside regular budgets.