Rodney Robinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rodney Robinson
Robinson in 2018
Born	Rodney Alexander Robinson (1978-09-09) September 9, 1978 (age 46) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation	Social studies and history educator
Years active	2000—present
Known for	2019 National Teacher of the Year

Rodney Alexander Robinson, born on September 9, 1978, is a special teacher from America. He taught for many years in middle and high schools in Richmond, Virginia. Later, he became a social studies and history teacher for students aged 6 to 12. He taught at the Virgie Binford Education Center, which is inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center. In 2018, he was named Virginia Teacher of the Year. The next year, in 2019, he became the National Teacher of the Year.

Early Life and Education Journey

Rodney Alexander Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia, on September 9, 1978. His mother, Sylvia, inspired him to become a teacher. She had always wanted to be a teacher herself. But because of segregation in Virginia, she did not get the chance. Instead, she ran a daycare from their home. She also worked hard to earn her GED. Rodney remembers watching her study for her GED. She worked full-time and raised a family. This memory stayed with him. His father also encouraged him to go to college. When Rodney was in eighth grade, his dad had him work on a farm. Rodney only lasted a few hours at that job!

Rodney earned his first degree in history from Virginia State University. He then got a master's degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University. An assistant principal helped him choose Virginia State. This happened after Rodney reacted strongly to a mean comment from a teacher.

Rodney is married to Summer Robinson. She is also a teacher in Richmond.

Teaching Career and Philosophy

Rodney Robinson, sometimes called "Big Rob" by his students, started teaching in 2000. He taught for 11 years at Armstrong High School in Richmond. He also taught at Lucille M. Brown Middle School and George Wythe High School. In 2015, he began teaching social studies and history at the Virgie Binford Education Center. This center is located inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center.

Rodney wanted to work with young people who needed help the most. This inspired him to teach at the detention center. When he first entered his classroom, the walls were empty. He decorated them with banners from colleges like Ivy League schools and historically Black colleges. He also added inspiring quotes from famous African Americans. His students at Virgie Binford usually stay in his class for a short time. During this time, he helps them catch up on their schoolwork. He wants them to be able to graduate.

Rodney believes in helping the whole child. He says, "You encourage social, emotional growth before you get to academic growth." He shows kids that he cares about them. He cares about their well-being. He wants them to become better people. When students see this, they are more likely to learn from him. The rules of the detention center can make some teaching methods harder. For example, it's tough to do big projects. He tries to help his students fit back into society. He makes sure they are registered to vote if they can. If they have had past legal issues, he teaches them how to get their rights back.

Rodney cares deeply about his students. He has even sought therapy to help him deal with the difficult experiences his students go through.

Community Involvement

Rodney Robinson is a volunteer coach and referee for Little League games. He helps out in the East End area of Richmond. He also works as the public address announcer for sports events at Armstrong High School.

He helps with efforts to save historic places in the city. This includes helping to clean up old cemeteries. He also leads history tours for groups visiting Richmond.

Working with Others

Rodney is part of the Education Compact Team. This group includes teachers, business leaders, community members, and politicians. It was created by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Rodney also works with city leaders and local colleges. He helps them find more male teachers from minority groups. He has also helped Yale University create lessons about race, social class, and fairness.

Awards and Special Honors

In 2012, Rodney Robinson received the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. Then, in 2018, he was named Virginia Teacher of the Year. The biggest honor came in 2019 when he was recognized as the National Teacher of the Year. He felt very humbled by this national award. He said that Black male teachers are often expected to only coach or handle discipline. He felt that winning this award helped him break out of that expectation. He was chosen to represent all teachers and students in America.

There was some discussion about whether Rodney would visit the White House to be honored. He decided to go. He met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Rodney planned to use his new platform as National Teacher of the Year. He wanted to speak up for fair school funding for all students. He also wanted to encourage more minority men to become teachers.