Lewes Elementary educator’s art earns Governor’s Choice Award
Lewes Elementary paraprofessional Kristin Corbi poses beside her award-winning painting titled “Overwhelmed.” Kristin and her mother Kim Corbi, a Lewes Elementary School counselor, both submitted artwork to the Delaware State Employee National Arts Program Exhibition.
This article was written and posted by Cape Gazette on April 15, 2026 (link below to original source)
A member of the Cape Henlopen School District and Lewes Elementary community is being recognized at the state level for both artistic excellence and powerful storytelling.
Kristen Corbi, a part-time service paraprofessional at Lewes Elementary and daughter of Lewes Elementary School Counselor Kim Corbi, has been named as the Sussex County recipient of the Governor’s Choice Award in the 2026 Delaware State Employees Art Exhibition. The exhibition is sponsored by the National Arts Program in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts, and it showcases the creative talents of state employees and their families.
Corbi’s award-winning piece, “Overwhelmed,” was selected by Gov. Matt Meyer as one of the top entries in the state and recognized among the 2026 National Arts Program award winners. As part of the honor, her artwork is currently on display at Delaware State University’s gallery before being moved to the Governor’s Office, where it will remain on exhibit for one year.
“Overwhelmed” is a deeply personal piece inspired by Corbi’s experiences as a deaf and hard-of-hearing student at West Chester University. Through a submerged self-portrait, the painting conveys the emotional and academic challenges she faced while navigating environments not always designed for accessibility.
“’Overwhelmed’ captures the suffocating weight of my college experience as a deaf and hard-of-hearing individual,” Corbi shared in her artist statement. “The close-up of my face, suspended underwater and holding my breath, symbolizes the constant tension of navigating classrooms and situations where understanding did not come easily or naturally.” ........