RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A teacher from Richmond Public Schools was named 2019 Virginia Teacher of the Year at a ceremony at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) on Tuesday.
At the ceremony, Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam announced RPS teacher Rodney A. Robinson as the winner of the award.
Robinson has taught history at Virgie Binford Education Center, a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, since 2015.
“Most importantly, I want to thank my students,” Robinson said in accepting the award. “My students are the most vulnerable kids in society. They have succumbed to the pressure of urban living and made mistakes that they are paying for but they still persevere and strive for success. They are my inspiration, and I will fight to my last heartbeat for them.”
Earning his master’s degree in administration and supervision from VCU, Robinson has served RPS for the last 19 years.
Robinson received multiple prizes after winning: A $5,000 award and ring from Apple Federal Credit Union Foundation, $2,000 award from the Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen law firm, $1,000 from Dominion Energy Services Inc., a membership to VMFA and more.
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