Krabill reflects on 3 decades in education

With more than three decades of experience in education, John Krabill has seen plenty of changes, but his commitment to students remains constant.

Krabill, an intervention specialist in the functional skills classroom at West Holmes Middle School, has spent the last decade serving the district. His overall career spans 31 years, including two years as a substitute teacher.

Krabill is a graduate of Louisville High School, Malone College and Ashland University. Teaching runs in the family, so it was a no-brainer for Krabill to follow suit.

“I had multiple family role models, including my grandfather and father who were public school teachers,” he said.

As a student, he was active in band in junior high — a detail he still reflects on fondly.

Over the years, some of his favorite memories have been field trips with students. From fishing outings and bird sanctuary visits to meeting Jack Hanna at the Columbus Zoo, those experiences stick with him.

As a teacher, one has to prepare for all sorts of scenarios. Even still, anticipating lockdown drills and having bleed control bags in the classroom didn’t come to mind as Krabill was anticipating his work in the classroom.

The most rewarding moments come when he sees the impact he’s had. A particular memory that stands out is when parents told him their child’s reading skills had greatly advanced since working with him.

His biggest challenge? Balancing it all — the planning, paperwork and meeting a wide range of student needs every day, he said.

Outside the classroom, Krabill enjoys reading, hiking, gardening and fishing — hobbies that help him recharge as he continues to support his students.

“Teacher Spotlight” is a feature on a local teacher.