Officer Hamline is LPS Support Employee of the Year for 2026

It was a memorable afternoon for the Sharks at Lillian Schumacher Elementary, as Internal Security Officer Mr. Kyle Hamline was announced as the 2026–2027 Liberty Public Schools Support Employee of the Year during a surprise ceremony at the school.

Officer Hamline has served LPS in various capacities since 1995. He began as an off-duty security officer while working full-time for the Liberty Police Department. He later served as a School Resource Officer at both Liberty Middle School and Heritage Middle School as part of his role with the department. Following his retirement from the LPD, Officer Hamline joined Liberty Public Schools full-time as an Internal Security Officer.

“The relationships Officer Hamline has formed with our Shark community have been amazing since the first day he arrived,” said Lillian Schumacher Principal Dr. Matthew Krohne. “There isn’t a student here he doesn’t know by name, and he is committed every day to making Schumacher a better place.”

Officer Hamline has deep roots in Liberty, having attended LPS and graduated from Liberty High School before enlisting in the Army as a young adult. Later, his own children attended and graduated from LPS, including time at Lillian Schumacher during their elementary years.

“This Schumacher school community is so special to me,” said Hamline. “The school is literally located in our neighborhood, and our kids attended here as well. The staff at Schumacher and across LPS are amazing, and it is truly humbling to be recognized by them.”

The LPS Support Employee of the Year program was introduced in 2011 to complement the district’s Teacher of the Year program, with the goal of recognizing the dedicated support staff who help make Liberty Public Schools successful. Officer Hamline is the first member of the LPS safety and security team to receive this district-level honor.