Kristina McDowell and Shawn Yarbrough have been chosen to serve as Academic Deans for Clark Elementary and Morgan Elementary. As Academic Deans, McDowell and Yarbrough will be part of the leadership team with oversight of the Special Education Department.
Kristina McDowell is a native of Newburgh, IN where she graduated from Signature School. Kristina holds her B.A. in Special Education LBD and MSD from the University of Evansville and has completed her Masters of Elementary Education from the University of the Cumberlands. She will complete her Masters of Arts in School Administration Level I in July 2023.
Kristina began her teaching career as a para educator at Yates Elementary in Lexington, KY in the fall of 2011. After one semester she became a full time Special Education teacher and continued teaching at Yates for three years. In the fall of 2015 Kristina began her tenure with Paducah Public Schools at Paducah Middle. She taught in the LBD classroom where she started the Special Cup program. In the fall of 2018 Kristina came to Clark Elementary. Since then, she has served on the Lighthouse Team for Leader in Me and on the Clark SBDM. Over the past four years, Kristina has taught for Murray State University as an adjunct professor focusing on special education.
“We are thrilled to have Kristina McDowell as our new Academic Dean at Clark Elementary,” said Clark Elementary Principal Kelly Workman. “She has 12 years of experience in special education and has been a vital part of our team for five years. Mrs. McDowell has a wealth of knowledge and a sincere commitment to ensuring the success of our students and faculty.”
Shawn Yarbrough is a 2000 Lone Oak High School graduate and a Paducah native. He completed his M.A. Ed. in School Administration Level I and Level II through University of the Cumberlands in 2022. He received his M.A. Ed. in the Area of Special Education P-12 LBD from Murray State University in 2018 after completing the alternative certification program. Yarbrough earned his B.S. in Mass Communications in the Area of Public Relations from McNeese State University in 2004.
He has seven years of experience within the educational field. Most recently, Yarbrough served as the Special Education Teacher in the Social Skills Enrichment Unit at Lone Oak Elementary for the McCracken County School District. Prior teaching experience includes three years at Paducah Middle School and three years at Farmington Elementary for the Graves County School District.
Yarbrough was nominated for the 2022 Council of Exceptional Children Special Education Teacher of the Year Award in the State of Kentucky. He was also nominated as finalist for the WKCTC Regional Educator Teacher of the Year Award in 2022. Yarbrough was recognized as Teacher of the Year for Paducah Middle School in 2022. He served as a house leader and served on the Ron Clark Academy delegation committee while at Paducah Middle. He also served on the district TNTP Learning Acceleration team for Paducah Public Schools.
Prior to his teaching career, Mr. Yarbrough worked in higher education serving as a college baseball coach at Mid-Continent University and UT Martin. Yarbrough has mentored Purchase Area youth of all ages over the past two decades while owning and operating two different baseball and softball academies, River City Academy and Diamond Academy. Yarbrough also spent time as Recommending Scout with the Cincinnati Reds.
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Yarbrough to Morgan Elementary,” said Morgan Elementary Principal Tami Snyder. “He brings an outstanding passion for our students and families, along with a wealth of knowledge in special education. We look forward to him joining our administrative team.”