Ybarzabal has been an educator for 25 years and has been an administrator for 14 years. He has taught grades 5 – 12 and has taught in private, parochial, and public school settings. He began working for Paducah Public Schools in 2000 at PTHS, where he was a biology teacher, science chair, and volleyball coach. Ybarzabal moved to Clark Elementary to become assistant principal in 2006. He was named principal at Clark Elementary in 2011.
Ybarzabal earned his B.S. degree from Louisiana State University. He earned his M.A. in school administration and a Superintendent’s certificate from Murray State University. He currently serves as an adjunct professor in the MSU College of Education.
“While I’m sad to be leaving a tight-knit family of faculty and staff at Clark, I can leave knowing that they will continue building the solid foundation on which the educational future of our students rests,” said Ybarzabal. “I am eager to take on the challenge of leading the PATC and the Innovation Hub because I believe that it will provide me with the opportunity to have the greatest impact on students from our district and the region. I look forward to using my skills and experience to create an innovative learning experience for students.”
“We are pleased that Mr. Ybarzabal will be moving to the Paducah Area Technical Center to serve as principal,” said Superintendent Dr. Donald Shively. “Mr. Ybarzabal has a proven track record of student success at Clark and Paducah Tilghman as a teacher and an administrator, and we look forward to the positive impact that he will have on our regional students, the faculty, and the staff at the PATC.
“As we anticipate the opening of the Paducah Innovation Hub next year, the hiring committee is confident that Mr. Ybarzabal will lead the way as we seek to work with regional business leaders to align the offerings at the Innovation Hub with workforce needs to ensure the opportunity for success for each and every student.”
