The gist: Lakeland Middle Preparatory School (LMPS) has its Teacher of the Year candidate. It’s Kyle Richins, who was handed a Teacher of the Year certificate in front of his class.
Who he is
The Lakeland School System announced on Facebook on Oct. 30 that Richins is in his 10th year as a middle school teacher at LMPS. The school’s staff directory lists him as an 8th grade social studies teacher.
What his nominator says
LMPS Principal Corrie Martin shared one of the submissions from Richins’ Teacher of the Year nominators:
“He instills a love of learning by turning his classroom into an active environment where students don’t just read about the past…they debate it, analyze it, and connect it directly to their world today. Because of his deep expertise from the James Madison Fellowship, he brings storytelling and constitutional insight that make 8th graders genuinely curious about civic engagement. When students see how passionate he is about the subject, it’s contagious.”
About that fellowship
In June 2025, the federal James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation named Richins its 2025 James Madison Fellow for Tennessee. He was one of 43 teachers and future teachers picked nationwide. The fellowship pays up to $24,000 toward a master’s degree focused on the U.S. Constitution.
One for each school
Richins rounds out the day’s picks. Lakeland Elementary named kindergarten teacher Tammy Madden, and Lakeland Prep named math teacher Dr. Casey Greer.
The district’s post didn’t say what comes next for this year’s candidates. 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.
Congratulations, Mr. Richins. #RoarMore
Sources: Lakeland School System on Facebook (post of Oct. 30, 2026); LMPS faculty and staff directory; James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation, June 10, 2025; Lakeland School System board agendas, Feb. 2, 2026 and March 2, 2026.
Photos: Lakeland School System.
