Deborah Thomas - Lakeland School Board Member

02/13/2026

Since being elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, it has been my privilege to witness the growth of our school system to a full K-12 system and to support our teachers, students, and their families in every way a school board member can.

This year, the election cycle looks a little different. In the past, school board candidates have had a while to pull a petition and to file it (not until school was out for summer), but that timeline accelerated when school board elections became partisan—requiring candidates to pull and file a petition much earlier than in the past (March) AND to run in a primary ahead of the general election in November.

As many of you know, I do have a very personal tie to our school system as well. My son will be among the first class of LPS graduates when he crosses the stage on May 5th. As of now, we don’t know where life will take him beyond high school, but I definitely plan to be present for him, wherever his path may lead. I also have my mom in East Tennessee who, since 2012, has navigated life on her own since losing my dad. She’s visited here a lot, but now I can be a little more present for her.

With the accelerated filing deadline and the shifting needs of my family, I decided it would be best to finish out my term through the November election and not seek a third term.

If you know me, you know this wasn’t an easy decision, but you also know I don’t start things I cannot finish. But don’t worry: I’ll be around for all things “Lions” between now and November. Once a Lion, Always a Lion!

11/11/2023

Whether you’re a parent who has kids in LSS, an employee of LSS, or an interested community member, we value your input on our five-year strategic plan. This survey is anonymous, and it’s also short. We want to know your thoughts about culture, academics, facilities, communication, extracurricular programs, and district operations in our school system. We’ve also included space for you to add your own thoughts that may not fit perfectly in a single category. Please take a few moments to help us as we plan for the next five years!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBeDyO-UDaVcAW1I-0IvT7iZ2q0EfpBs9ROEkERf0YjEddKA/viewform?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members, As part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, we value your input in shaping our school district's five-year strategic plan. Your feedback will help us align our goals and initiatives with the needs and aspirations of our community. Please t...

11/11/2023

Whether you’re a parent who has kids in LSS, an employee of LSS, or an interested community member, we value your input on our five-year strategic plan. This survey is anonymous, and it’s also short. We want to know your thoughts about culture, academics, facilities, communication, extracurricular programs, and district operations in our school system. We’ve also included space for you to add your own thoughts that may not fit perfectly in a single category. Please take a few moments to help us as we plan for the next five years!

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members, As part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, we value your input in shaping our school district's five-year strategic plan. Your feedback will help us align our goals and initiatives with the needs and aspirations of our community. Please t...

11/02/2023

As part of the development of our district's Five-year Strategic Plan for 2024-29, we are inviting Lakeland parents and community members to take this survey covering various aspects of Lakeland School System's operations. Over the course of this school year, we will hone in on themes and develop goals to guide the next five years of our system's development. We appreciate the support of our Lion family, and would love to include your feedback into our planning process!

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members, As part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, we value your input in shaping our school district's five-year strategic plan. Your feedback will help us align our goals and initiatives with the needs and aspirations of our community. Please t...

11/10/2022

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to serve on our school board again! Our schools are the heart of our community, and we have so much to be proud of and to build on in the years ahead. Thank you for your vote!

09/27/2022

Election Day is six weeks from today!

For those of you who know me and have supported me since 2018, I greatly appreciate your confidence in me as one of the caretakers of our kids, our families, and our teachers.

If we haven’t met yet, you need to know a little about me. I‘m a former middle and high school Latin and English teacher. My husband Chuck and I have been married for 28 years, and we have one son—Bryce—who is a ninth grader at LPS. Since he entered kindergarten, I’ve volunteered at LES and LPS in multiple capacities as room mom, library worker, PTO board member, exam proctor, and more—wherever there was a need.

As a school board member, I was board liaison to the committee that decided a later start time for our high schoolers was something worth seeing to fruition. I also advocated for the high school—both before and after I was elected—because I knew we could offer our kids something special that would allow them to be Lakeland Lions from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

Both of our campuses are now bustling with activity and opportunity and promise! I believe every one of our kids has a niche—a place where they can form lasting relationships with others and where they can excel in ways they never even dreamed possible. I love watching them perform, whether it be with an instrument, with their intellect, with their dramatic or artistic flair, or with their athleticism. And all this magic occurs because we have such a devoted, caring, and incredibly talented and selfless group of educators and staff at LES and LPS.

I would appreciate your vote on November 8th. Yes, I’m running unopposed, but I don’t take a single vote for granted, especially when it involves caring for our kids. It would be my privilege to serve on the Lakeland School Board for a second term.

If you haven’t registered to vote yet, you can do so online. The deadline is October 11th. Click here:

09/12/2022

I’m so proud! My favorite part of this press release is the last line by Dr. Horrell:

“We’re so proud of our students and teachers for not only these results but for so many other successes that are not measured in data.”

Lakeland School System Named as a 2022 Exemplary School District and Lakeland Elementary Named 2022 Reward School by TN Department of Education

The Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) has announced that Lakeland School System is one of sixteen districts in Tennessee to be designated as an Exemplary School District. In addition, Lakeland Elementary School was named a 2021-22 Reward School. Exemplary districts meet state-set requirements in total student population as well as in individual sub-groups of students. The recognition reflects the performance of students at the K-4 Lakeland Elementary School and at the 5-8 Lakeland Middle Preparatory School. In addition, Lakeland Elementary was named a 2022 Reward School which is the highest distinction available to public schools in Tennessee.

LSS superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell said, “Every year, we use the data we have to try to get better, and we’re already hard at work to improve upon last year’s results. We’re so proud of our students and teachers for not only these results but for so many other successes that are not measured in data.”

11/13/2021

I’m so proud that our schools let veterans know just how important and loved they are! Our tradition of 🇺🇸 showing 🇺🇸 them continues! And what beautiful sounds filled these spaces once again!

04/30/2021

On any given day, about 100 people are at work on site at the Lakeland Preparatory School campus. They’re building classrooms, offices, fine arts, CTE, and athletic spaces, and we got a glimpse of their work today. It’s a whole new level of excitement!

Come along, and I’ll take you on a tour. I’m so grateful to Chris Woods, Renaissance Group, and Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Horrell for their thoughtful and purposeful work on our school!

11/16/2020

I was waiting in the car line today and decided to take a page from Commissioner Wesley Alan Wright’s playbook. Walls of the high school wing are rising from the ground on the LPS campus! Exciting times!