Music education alumna Alexandra Snabon-Jun ’03, G’04 has been named the 2026 Nevada State Teacher of the Year. Snabon-Jun teaches music at Tyrone Thompson Elementary School in the Clark County School District. She goes on to represent Nevada in the National Teacher of the Year program.
In his citation, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo writes that Snabon-Jun “exemplifies exceptional dedication and leadership in the field of education, significantly impacting the lives of her students.”
“Ali is an exemplary longtime educator and a leader among her peers,” says Dr. Steve Canavero, Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction. “She has a remarkable ability to connect with students and make them feel welcome at school.”
“Ali is a dedicated educator and a rockstar,” says Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of the Clark County School District. “Each day her passion for teaching and educating students is evident as she inspires students to be their very best.”
A native of Buffalo, NY, Snabon-Jun is a 2003 graduate of the Syracuse University School of Education’s and College of Visual and Performing Arts’ dual B.Mus. in Music Education program and a 2004 graduate of the dual M.Mus. in Music Education program.
Beginning her teaching career on Long Island, Snabon-Jun has taught in Nevada for more than 20 years. Currently, she is the sole music educator for more than 900 students at Tyrone Thompson Elementary School. She leads two choirs, produces full-scale musicals, and teaches music fundamentals, singing, dancing, percussion, recorders, ukuleles, and drumming.
Snabon-Jun also helped launch music programs at several Clark County campuses, including Evelyn Stuckey Elementary School, Dr. Beverly S. Mathis Elementary School, and Tyrone Thompson Elementary School.
Over the years, she has received numerous awards, including the prestigious national Milken Educator Award (2021) and De Castroverde Law Group Teacher Appreciation Award (2024). In 2023, she was awarded a key to Fort Scott, KS, while serving as a fellow of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. This experience allowed her to collaborate with distinguished educators from around the world, including Ukraine’s Teacher of the Year.
“When I think of Ali Snabon-Jun, two adjectives come to mind: passion and fun for the kids,” says Robert Hinchliffe, Principal, Tyrone Thompson Elementary School. “She makes every lesson incredibly engaging in many ways and is beloved by both students and parents within our community. She has built our music and choir program from the ground up and her devotion to this field is unparalleled.”