Tracey Robinson District Teacher of the Year

June 9, 2025 -- Tracey Robinson understands just how difficult it is to teach and motivate young students, especially wide-eyed grade-schoolers perched on the launching pad, anxiously awaiting to take a journey that is likely to define their collective destiny.

For 37 years, Robinson has been charting a path toward success for thousands of young people who have walked through the doors of Schumacher CLC. Her mission is to ensure that every student is given ample opportunity to succeed academically and develop into responsible men and women with the potential to impact their communities.

“I always say, I love building young people such as in kindergarten because you have to build a foundation with them,” Robinson said. “They come to you as a blank slate, and what you have impressed upon them, it's lasting, it sticks, it's the foundation of their whole educational process, as they go through each grade level.

“So I've never had any thoughts of teaching beyond third grade,” she said. “I do prefer younger students.”

Robinson has worked to develop thinkers and scholars. She said it’s a strong sense of accomplishment to see her former students become scholars, many of whom have become pillars of the community. 

Robinson’s wins far exceed the losses.

Perhaps, one of her greatest success stories is that of Steven Harris. The Bill Gates Scholarship recipient epitomizes what the highly selective award expects of young scholars. The annual scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.

“When my students leave, the goal is that they truly become scholars,” said Robinson, who continues to have relationships with many of her former students. “It reflects a strong sense of accomplishment to see them actually become scholars and pillars of the community.”

Robinson, a 1979 graduate of Central-Hower, continues to develop young minds. It’s reflected in the extraordinary success of her students during this school year, particularly the 91 percent scores in reading, which are among the highest in Ohio.

“I tell all my students that reading is the most important thing they’ll ever learn,” she said. “I tell them, ‘you can't learn anything unless you know how to read.’ And so from that, I tell them, if you trust me, you have to believe in me, because we're a team. And I do believe in team building.

“If you trust me and you believe in me, then I'll prepare you for first grade, and you're gonna be readers. I'm just building that foundation where they have a sense of personal pride.”

Robinson, too, believes in community pride. It’s one reason why in 1988 she planted a flag at Schumacher – one that characterizes her unwavering commitment.

“I think oftentimes, educators may just feel like they want to stretch, maybe feel like they're constrained a little bit and maybe they want to teach another grade,” Robinson said. “They want to try another school, have a different experience. I guess I'm just, I'm a person that likes to stay put.

“I've developed a really strong rapport in the community. I'm just a landmark here at Schumacher.”

Indeed, Robinson is invested in both the Schumacher and the community. There are some APS teachers who have remained in the same building for the majority of their teaching careers. However, it is increasingly rare.

“I can't speak for others, but I think we do have a large population of younger teachers whose children are actively involved in many things,” said Robinson, whose preference has always been to teach pre-K to third-graders. “I know that teachers are very dedicated to their students, but I think outside of that timeframe, they're involved with their own families and activities where there are time constraints.”

Robinson's success as a teacher and commitment to community are among many reasons her peers selected the University of Akron graduate as this year’s recipient of the Akron Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year Award. 

“It is just a great thrill to represent the talented and dedicated teachers in the Akron district,” Robinson said. “I can't put into words how honored I am to be the Teacher of the Year for the district. Other than becoming a mother this is one of the great highlights of my life.”

Robinson’s son, Virgil Robinson, began at his mother’s alma mater before transferring to Buchtel CLC where he graduated as one of the school’s decorated athletes in both track and football. But his mother has long been a superstar in the classroom, according to campus principal, Christopher Haynes.

“Students, staff and families have learned that a strong foundation in education makes everything possible,” Haynes said. “Systematic structures and great rituals and routines are the most important part of the foundation in education.

“All have learned that an educator like Ms. Robinson loves and cares about her scholars and they are thriving socially and academically. The scholars in this school, in that classroom have grown higher and higher each year with the leadership of Tracey Robinson.”

Robinson’s students are significantly ahead of the curve. So much so that when the school’s secretary reached out to double check the numbers. Indeed, only two of her 22 students hadn’t excelled beyond expectations.

“(Robinson’s) philosophy is that all kids can and will learn with intentionality,” said Christopher Haynes, the school’s principal. “She meets the kids where they are and takes them to where they need to be. 

“She does not hesitate to make sure that scholars are held to high expectations. She believes that scholars can and will rise to the expectations.”

However, Robinson’s expectations have always been to move the goalpost farther and farther away. It’s a strategic move designed to encourage her students to achieve – and believe in themselves.

Consequently, being honored as Akron Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year is an inevitable, if not expected, result.

Robinson has written several grants to ensure her students have a wealth of experiences and academic opportunities.

“I think it’s important for students to have the opportunity to learn other life skills,” said Robinson, who aspired to be an actress while studying theater arts at Central-Hower. “But literacy has been a strong passion of mine throughout my career.”

Robinson is considering writing a book about her career. 

“I might do that when I retire,” she said. “Right now, my passion is teaching. Every day, I’m planning and preparing and trying to see how I could help each and every one of them to achieve – to maximize their potential.

“I have leaders in the classroom every day. Every table has a leader. They're completely different from day one of kindergarten to the last day of kindergarten. And just that growth in between, it just fills my heart.

“I tell anyone who wants to go into education and thinks about it, you're going to be a life changer,” Robinson added, “and that is so powerful. And just changing the lives of children – that’s a legacy you carry with you forever.

 “I think there's a multitude of things that the selection committee was looking for. I think they viewed me through the whole lens as an educator.”

Haynes said students, staff and families have learned that a strong foundation in education makes everything possible. And having teachers like Robinson assure the foundation will be solid.

“Systematic structures and great rituals and routines are the most important part of the foundation in education,” Haynes said. “All have learned that an educator like Ms. Robinson loves and cares about her scholars and they are thriving socially and academically. The scholars in this school, in that classroom have grown higher and higher each year with the leadership of Tracey Robinson.” 

More importantly, Robinson understands her mission. She, too, understands the importance of developing those impressionable young minds.

“I tell anyone who wants to go into education and thinks about it, you're going to be a life changer,” Robinson added, “and that is so powerful. And just changing the lives of children – that’s a legacy you carry with you forever.”

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