- J.T. Crawford
As Paducah Paducah Schools rounded out their first leadership team for the Innovation Hub and searched for the right person to fill the role of Assistant Principal, they didn’t have to go any further than the talent found in Paducah Middle School’s Corbin Snardon.
Corbin has a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies from Western Kentucky University, an MAE in School Counseling and an MAE in Education Administration from Murray State. He began his career in education teaching sixth-grade geography and eighth-grade history. He’s served on the School Based Decision Making Council and the School Lighthouse Leadership Team. In 2015, he was a finalist for the Ashland Inc. Kentucky Teacher of the Year award. Before coming to the Hub, Corbin was the Paducah Public Schools’ Title One Counselor and the interim Assistant Principal at Paducah Middle School.
Corbin also serves as Second Vice-President and Education Chair for the Paducah/McCracken County NAACP where he was named member fo the year in 2018.
Paducah Life: How did you find your way to the city schools in Paducah?
Corbin: I grew up in Trenton, Kentucky, which is in Todd County, about 20 minutes east of Hopkinsville. I kind of fell into education. There were a lot of things I thought I wanted to be when I went into college. I thought about medicine. That turned to not be it. The first biology class knocked it out of me. But I did know that I wanted to work with kids. I knew that went I went to school. I didn’t realize that would be in teaching, but after some encouragement, I figured out that teaching would be the way. My scholarship director was related to the late Fredrickia Hargrove, who was an education staple here. She was trying to recruit teachers to Paducah and encouraged me to apply. I did, and the rest was history.
Paducah Life: Where did you get the desire to work with kids?
Corbin: I had already been doing some things in high school. I was involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters. I had a little brother—a little mentee. In college, I worked for a YMCA. I was a camp counselor and a lifeguard. In working with kids, I just realized I liked that kind of work.
Paducah Life: Tell us about your involvement with the community
Corbin: I didn’t know a lot about Paducah. I took the first year to get my feet and really learn. I worked at BikeWorld and with the bike camp. I completed Leadership Paducah. I just got into whatever I invest my interests and skills into. I got involved with the NAACP. I had been president of my college chapter, and of course, I was a good fit to be on the education committee. I am committed to progressing Paducah. It is a special jewel in west Kentucky.
Paducah Life: And you are also a published author, correct?
Corbin: Yes. I have two books. The first one is The Nature of Legacies. It is my thoughts and musings, from a Christian perspective, on what we leave behind. The second is called Them and was released under the pseudonym A.M. Clay. It is a collection of short stories loosely based on the encounters and experiences I have had with students.
Paducah Life: How has it been going to the Innovation Hub?
Corbin: When they were creating the Hub, my name got thrown around. They wanted to bring some of the successes over from Paducah Middle and I also had experience as the Title One Counselor. The Hub is very different, and I absolutely love it. I am a creative person, and I appreciate all things that the kids can tinker with. It is the perfect place for students who are hard-wired to work with their hands, or they may really look at things differently and need to experiment. It’s interactive and immersive and fantastic. I want to bring these kids to the forefront of the 21st century. They are ready for the torch. We just have to pass it to them.
Paducah Life: And you have a signature look. Tell us about the bowties.
Corbin: I started wearing them about my second year teaching. It takes a while to learn how to tie them, but once I did, I was sold on them. I am not the biggest fan of neckties. By the end of the day, everyone wants to loosen them up. Bow ties are actually more comfortable, and I like the look. It became my thing over time. And yes, it has to be a bowtie you have to tie.
