District Teachers Say Goodbye: Tom Corbia

Whether teaching lessons on anatomy or sharing tips on eating a balanced diet, Port Chester High School teacher Tom Corbia has been a fixture in local education through the decades.

After starting out at the Horton School in 1971 teaching physical education, Corbia later made it to Kennedy Magnet School, Edison and then King Street School before taking on his current position at Port Chester High School—making the rounds at nearly all of the district schools in the past 40 years.

As he reflects on those thousands of days in the classroom that spanned his career, the retiring teacher cannot simply choose one favorite memory—but rather the simple joy in teaching his students over time.

“I will miss being with each of my classes everyday knowing that they needed the information I was providing them regarding their health,” he said.

And as he prepares to leave the building at 3 p.m. for the last time, Corbia will exit the hallways of Port Chester High School on a satisfied note.

“It’s impossible to pick one memory after 40 years, but being able to go to a job everyday with no regrets," he said. "[I] would do it all over again if I could."

This will hopefully not be Corbia’s last stint with the Port Chester School District, though.  

The retiring teacher hopes to return as a candidate for the Board of Education in May 2012. And a return to the classroom is likely too. Corbia said he'd like to become an adjunct professor at one of the local colleges.

This year, 26 teachers are retiring from Port Chester Schools. On Monday, Port Chester Patch profiled Larry Siena, whose career began as a student teacher in Port Chester in 1972. On Tuesday, retiring science teacher Mary Romanello spoke to us about what she'll miss most after a 22-year career.

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