Robinson began her college journey with the goal of becoming a pediatrician, motivated by her passion for children, which led her to take on a supervisory position at a local after-school program. Observing the program's structure, she recognized the need for enhancements to foster academic success among her scholars.
Robinson expressed her belief that such a framework was essential daily within the school environment. She emphasized the importance of aiding children's learning, engaging with parents, and collaborating with community partners to enrich the after-school experience.
This transformative experience ignited her passion for education, prompting her to change her major from pre-med to elementary education. Robinson said she remembers breaking the news to her mother, telling her, “I don’t even like my biology class,” an essential subject for medical students.
Robinson earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Indianapolis and went on to earn a master's degree in educational leadership from Indiana University Northwest.
She has consistently engaged in urban education, a field to which she feels a strong commitment. Robinson emphasized her desire for scholars to succeed and aims to create the best learning environment possible.
“I want my scholars to know that they can achieve anything,” Robinson said. “It has nothing to do with where they live or any other external factor. Inside of our school there is love. Our scholars are the best and the brightest, and I believe in them.”
Robinson also stressed the critical role data analysis plays in promoting growth and supporting her scholars. She leverages this data to improve the performance of everyone at Aspire, including her own professional development.
“Data tells a story," Robinson said. “It represents more than just figures; it tells me how my scholars are performing and growing, while also informing instructional coaching for teachers and staff.”
The combination of Aspire’s culture and Robinson’s commitment to continuous improvement has led the school to outperform the local district for the last decade. This commitment was recognized with an Eagle Award for Academic Excellence in 2020, followed by another Eagle Award for State Accountability in 2024.
Robinson highlighted the Moral Focus curriculum as one of the most valuable offerings from National Heritage Academies’ partner schools, expressing her gratitude for the emphasis on character development. Among the nine virtues, she particularly values integrity. Robinson asserts the importance of integrity in her role as principal, teaching scholars the significance of keeping their word and making sound choices regardless of external observation.
"I teach my own children and my scholars at Aspire that all you have is your word, and you must stand on your word and live by it,” Robinson said. “You must make good choices even when no one is watching. That is integrity.”
Her steadfast commitment to integrity ensures that she provides an optimal learning environment, benefiting everyone at Aspire. She finds great fulfillment in witnessing the transformation and growth of both scholars and staff.
“Creating change takes all of us to be committed every day and even beyond the workday,” Robinson said. “We are working tirelessly to constantly improve and grow our scholars.”
She described this unwavering dedication as a calling and serves as her constant source of motivation.
Quick Facts:
- Principal Robinson made history in high school as the first African American female golfer to qualify for the Indiana state tournament. She continued her golfing journey at the University of Indianapolis.
- Her favorite meal is pizza. She enjoys all types of pies, but said her favorites would be pepperoni, sausage, and bacon, or chicken alfredo pizza. While she enjoys Chicago-style deep dish, the rest of her family insists on thin crust.
- Principal Robinson’s favorite color is red, and she is a proud member of the illustrious sorority of Delta Sigma Theta Inc.
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About Aspire Charter Academy
Aspire Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Gary, Indiana, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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