Leo Preston McKinely

A resident of Paducah, Kentucky, Leo Preston McKinely is a 2008 magna cum laude graduate of Freed-Hardeman University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics, while also serving an elected term with the Southern Honors College Council. Later, McKinely earned a master’s of arts in teacher leadership from Murray State University.  He is currently in his 18th year teaching mathematics at Paducah Tilghman High School, where he also serves as the department chair and Beta Club sponsor.  McKinely was named the 2025 REASP Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year, while also being dubbed the 2025 Paducah Board of Education Whitlow Commitment to Excellence Award Winner McKinely is single with no kids and has been a Christian for 21 years.  As of press time, McKinely is a nominee for the Kentucky Department of Education Teacher of the Year award. He currently is on the travel preaching circuit, where he preaches at a different congregation weekly wherever the Spirit leads him.  His aim is to please God (2 Corinthians 5:9) and baptize as many people as possible before God calls him home. In his free time, McKinely enjoys reading, working out, watching game shows, and doing puzzles. McKinely is also an avid fan of UK basketball and professional tennis.

Leo has endowed a scholarship in memory of his sister who passed to breast cancer. If anyone feels called to donate to the scholarship, monies can be sent to Regions Bank earmarked for the Heather Price Memorial Fund.