Principal explains why he plagiarized Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg

COLORADO (KGO) -- A Colorado high school principal who resigned after admitting he plagiarized a graduation speech is explaining why he did it.

Dr. Troy Snyder admits to taking lines directly from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's book "Lean In". Instead of using it as inspiration for his graduation speech two weeks ago.

Several times during his speech Snyder referred to an "ambition gap" in America, which is a chapter in Sandberg's book, "Lean in: women, work, and the will to lead."

Snyder now says he doesn't want to make excuses. He says he became distracted after finding out his mom was diagnosed with cancer and didn't have time to rewrite it.