National Teacher of the Year: ‘It’s About Touching Their Hearts’

Children need to feel safe, understood and loved in order to find success in the classroom. That’s the message 2019 National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson delivered last night in UMW’s Dodd Auditorium.

“It’s about relationships,” said Robinson, who teaches history at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center’s Virgie Binford Education Center. “It’s about touching their hearts and making them want to change.”

He had one word for teaching, especially in the prison system: tough. Robinson believes teachers must meet students’ basic, social and emotional needs before tackling academics. He urged educators – many of whom were in the audience of about 350 – to get to know their students, empathize with them and create culturally responsive curricula that take into account the students’ interests and experiences as human beings.

“Every day, everything I do is viewed through a lens of equity,” Robinson said. “I believe that all students can learn and it’s everybody’s job to help teach the children.”

He shared with the crowd photos of those who inspired him, including his mother, an educator in her own right, who ran an at-home daycare, and two teachers who encouraged him throughout school and steered him to college. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University and a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Robinson flashed onto the screen behind him photos of poignant moments in his career, including meetings with Gayle King during his appearance on CBS This Morning, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, and the most meaningful of all, civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis.

As Teacher of the Year, Robinson recounted recent highlights of his career, including the one he said has been most significant, meeting civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Around 200 people came to UMW’s Dodd Auditorium for a presentation by 2019 National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Educators and community members were among those who attended last night’s presentation by 2019 National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

During his presentation, Robinson shared professional and personal photos, including this one of his mother, whom he calls his “inspiration.” Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW alum and secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association Princess R. Moss ’83 helped introduce Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

To give students the boost they need in the classroom, Robinson said, it’s important to instill them with a sense of self-esteem. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Robinson captivated a crowd last night at UMW’s Dodd Auditorium as he shared his philosophies for success in the classroom. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Among those who attended last night’s presentation were Mary Washington President Troy Paino and wife Kelly (pictured); members of UMW’s Board of Visitors; students, faculty and staff; and educators from across the Fredericksburg region. Photos by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Like Rep. Lewis, all of today’s students should be “civically minded, socially conscious change agents,” said Robinson, who told of the successes of young people who have come through his own classroom and worked hard to pull themselves out of poverty.

His daily activities in a Richmond classroom make it clear that the school-to-prison pipeline remains an issue that must be addressed. “I know it’s real because I experience it. I live it every day.”

Today’s educators, Robinson said, are in a unique position to be able to help accelerate change: “Nothing is more important than what a student feels, hears and sees in your classroom.”