Paducah Citizens' Academy

Contact
Cathy Bryant-Quimby
Senior Customer Experience Representative
City Hall
300 South 5th Street, P.O. 2267
Paducah, KY 42002
Phone: 

Your Passport to City Government

The Paducah Citizens’ Academy is your Passport to City Government. The Academy connects participants to their local government through interactive sessions with the City Manager, Executive Leadership Team, and staff about the inner workings of city government. Participants also have the opportunity to learn about the floodwall, tour city facilities, and more.

Topics covered include

  • City Government 101 (Administration, City Clerk, Customer Experience, Grants, and Communications)
  • Keeping You Safe (Fire Department)
  • Serving with Pride (Police Department and E911)
  • Always Something to Do (Parks & Recreation Department)
  • Dollars and Sensibility (Finance Department)
  • Internal Services (Technology and Human Resources Departments)
  • Streets, Streams, and Strategies (Engineering Department)
  • Basic Necessities (Public Works Department)
  • Building for Tomorrow (Planning Department)

City Manager Daron Jordan said, “The Paducah Citizens’ Academy provides citizens a unique opportunity to see behind-the-scenes of city government. Through interactive activities and interesting conversations, the Citizens’ Academy strengthens our community connections. Our hope is that each graduate will share their city government knowledge and experience with their friends and family. Local government has its complexities, but through the Citizens’ Academy, we are working to share with the public the value of local government and how we accomplish projects and provide services."


Apply for 2025 Academy

The City of Paducah is accepting applications for the 2025 Paducah Citizens’ Academy. The Academy, which is a mixture of classroom instruction, hands-on activities, site visits, and tours, will be held on nine consecutive Thursday evenings beginning April 17. Sessions will be Thursdays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., from April 17 through June 12. Some sessions may start at earlier times to facilitate tours. A graduation ceremony will be at the June 24 meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners with a reception before the meeting. 

The program is free to participants; however, class size is limited. Individuals 16 years of age and older who live, work, or attend school in Paducah-McCracken County are encouraged to apply. Registration is available through April 6 by completing the form in the link below.

Apply for 2025 Paducah Citizens' Academy

Download the 2025 Academy Flyer

If you have a question, contact Senior Customer Experience Representative Cathy Bryant-Quimby at 270-444-8800.

The Paducah Citizens’ Academy is similar in structure to the highly successful Citizens’ Police Academy offered through the Paducah Police Department.


Graduation Photos

2020-2024

Academy had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020 and was not held from 2021 through 2024.

2019

Photo from the Graduation Ceremony held May 14, 2019.  A few of the participants were not able to attend the ceremony.

2019 Graduation Ceremony

2018

Photo from the Graduation Ceremony held June 12, 2018.  There were 21 academy participants.  Some were not able to attend the ceremony.

Citizens' Academy Graduation Class #2