RICHMOND, Va. — The 2019 National Teacher of the Year has a new job with Richmond Public Schools.
Teacher Rodney Robinson has been named Senior Advisor for Richmond Public Schools where he will focus on supporting Black men and other male teachers of color.
“We are thrilled to have Rodney back and to have him join the RPS Family in this capacity,” Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said. “Rodney is a fierce fighter for equity, a proponent of abolitionist teaching, and an all-around force to be reckoned with. We not only need his voice at the table, we need him leading the very important work of helping RPS become an anti-racist school division.”
Robinson's new role includes helping to develop a male teachers of color initiative and establish partnerships with organizations that will help with recruiting and supporting male teachers of color.
He will also play a key role in the district’s new anti-racism policy agenda and will work closely with the Talent Office to create mentorship opportunities for new teachers.
During his tenure as National Teacher of the Year, Robinson toured the nation meeting with government officials, education leaders, and teachers to speak about the underrepresentation of Black male educators, his experience as a teacher at a juvenile detention center, and the importance of dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.
“Being National Teacher of the Year afforded me the opportunity to establish relationships and learn best practices from colleges, states, and organizations who are doing the work of promoting cultural equity in the classroom,” Robinson said.“I am excited I have been given the chance to do this important work in the Richmond community. All students benefit from educators who look like them and appreciate their culture. I'm going to work hard to ensure that the students in Richmond get what they need and deserve.”
The 19-year teaching veteran, who most recently taught at Virgie Binford Education Center, a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, started his new job on August 4.
He is also a member of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s Education Compact Team and the Task Force to Reimagine Public Safety.
