Corbin High School Principal resigns

 Corbin High School Principal John Derek Faulconer announced his resignation Wednesday.

Faulconer, who has served as principal is leaving, effective Monday, to take a principal’s position in the Knox County Tennessee School System.

According to Corbin Schools officials, Faulconer will be the principal at a new magnet high school that is set to open in August.

“Today is a bittersweet day for me.” Faulconer commented, “I will never forget this school and community. I am very appreciative of everyone for allowing me the opportunity to lead this school into the future. I will miss everything about Corbin, however I am embarking on a new adventure that allows me a chance to not only grow as an educational leader but a chance to spend more quality time with my family. My respect and admiration for this district will last a lifetime.”

The then 33-year-old Faulconer was hired as the principal at Corbin High School in June 2011.

Members of the high school’s site based council, who were responsible for the interviews and hire, noted Faulconer’s past success in improving multiple low performing schools, along with stellar references and good interviews, as the reason he was selected for the position.

"He’s helped to bring some low-performing schools up in Tennessee and that really stood out to us," said Jimmy Corn, who served as co-chair of the site based council, when Faulconer’s hiring was announced. "We are continuing to be better and the best. We are at a level that we really want to push and go higher in Corbin. We feel like he is someone that can lead us to the next level."

Corbin School Board Chair Kim Croley said she was brought to tears when she learned of Faulconer’s decision, but said she understands that he is putting his family first.

“He and I talk alot and he said he has been praying about it and when this opportunity presented itself, he felt like God was giving him the answer,” Croley said of Faulconer.

Croley said the timing of the resignation would be unusual if Faulconer were stepping into an established position.

“He will be going to basically open a brand new school,” Croley noted. “Sometimes the timing is only good for the person doing the hiring.”

Croley said Assistant Superintendent Dave Cox, who is over the secondary schools, will be named interim principal at the high school. However, the assistant principals, Nicole Brock and John Crawford, will oversee the day-to-day operations at the school.

“I want the parents and students to understand that the day-to-day processes at the school will not change,” Croley said. “The biggest effect is that somebody with a very big hear is leaving.”

Croley said there is a specific process in place to hire a principal or faculty member at a school and it does not involve the school board.

The school’s site based decision-making council is responsible for interviewing and selecting the principal.

Croley said the process begins with a special four hour training by state education cabinet officials explaining everything the council has to do, including how long the position must be posted and what criteria the candidates must meet.