Gerard Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerard Robinson
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| 24th Education Commissioner of Florida | |
| In office June 21, 2011 – August 31, 2012 |
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| Governor | Rick Scott |
| Preceded by | Eric J. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Tony Bennett |
| 14th Virginia Secretary of Education | |
| In office January 16, 2010 – June 21, 2011 |
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| Governor | Bob McDonnell |
| Preceded by | Thomas R. Morris |
| Succeeded by | Laura Fornash |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gerard Robinson
September 24, 1966 Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kimberly |
| Alma mater | El Camino College (AA) Howard University (BA) Harvard University (MEd) |
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Gerard Robinson (born September 24, 1966) is an American leader who has worked to improve education. He served as the Secretary of Education for the state of Virginia and later as the Education Commissioner for Florida. He is known for supporting school choice, which gives families more options for where their children go to school.
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Who is Gerard Robinson?
Gerard Robinson was born on September 24, 1966. He has dedicated his career to public service, especially in education. He believes that good education is important for everyone.
Early Life and Education
Robinson grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He worked hard in school and went on to earn several degrees. He received an associate's degree from El Camino College. An associate's degree is usually a two-year degree. After that, he earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University. A bachelor's degree is typically a four-year degree. He then continued his studies at Harvard University, where he earned a master's degree in education. This advanced degree helped him become an expert in how schools work.
Working in Education
Gerard Robinson has held important roles in education at the state level. These jobs involve making big decisions about schools and learning for many students.
Virginia Secretary of Education
In 2010, Gerard Robinson was chosen to be the Secretary of Education for Virginia. He worked for Governor Bob McDonnell. In this role, he helped guide the state's education policies. He served in this position from January 16, 2010, until June 21, 2011. He was preceded by Thomas R. Morris and succeeded by Laura Fornash.
Florida Education Commissioner
After his time in Virginia, Robinson became the Education Commissioner for Florida. He started this role on June 21, 2011, and worked for Governor Rick Scott. As commissioner, he was in charge of the entire public education system in Florida. He worked to improve schools and student learning across the state. His term ended on August 31, 2012. He was preceded by Eric J. Smith and succeeded by Tony Bennett.
Supporting School Choice
Gerard Robinson is a strong supporter of school choice. This idea means that parents should have different options for their children's education. These options can include public schools, charter schools, private schools, or even homeschooling. Robinson believes that having choices helps more students find the best learning environment for them. He was also the president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, an organization that worked to expand educational choices for Black families.
External Links
- Gerard Robinson and Van Jones: Invest in education, not more prisons
- Robinson: Obama Redefined School Reform for Democrats
- Education is the key to redeeming lives in prison
