The gist: Lakeland Elementary School has its Teacher of the Year candidate. It’s kindergarten teacher Tammy Madden, and she found out with a classroom surprise: balloons, a gift bag and a room full of five-year-olds.
Who she is
Madden is in her seventh year teaching kindergarten at Lakeland Elementary (LES), according to the Lakeland School System, which announced the pick on Facebook on Oct. 30.
What her principal says
LES Principal Joretha Lockhart shared this about Madden:
“Mrs. Madden does not just teach the littlest Lions in the building, she also creates the spark for a lifelong love of learning. She brings lessons to life with incredible energy and creativity. Whether it’s a phonics lesson, cute craft, or modeling writing in the air, Mrs. Madden keeps five-year-olds completely engaged and excited to learn the next skill and/or participate in their newest adventure. She also creates a safe, welcoming environment where her students feel confident enough to try new things, make mistakes, and proudly celebrate their successes.”
Not her first shout-out
In February 2024, WREG named Madden its Tennessee Lottery Educator of the Week.
The bigger picture
The district’s post calls Madden Lakeland Elementary’s candidate. In the last cycle, the district honored three Teachers of the Year, one for each grade band (K-4, 5-8 and 9-12), and recognized them at school board meetings in February and March 2026. The Oct. 30 post didn’t say what comes next for this year’s candidates.
Congrats, Ms. Madden. #RoarMore
Sources: Lakeland School System on Facebook (post of Oct. 30, 2026); Lakeland School System board agendas, Feb. 2, 2026 and March 2, 2026; WREG, Feb. 8, 2024.
Photos: Lakeland School System.
