Robinson followed vision into classroom

EDITOR’S NOTE: Final of eight profiles of the Dougherty County School System’s 2018 Teacher of the Year finalists.

ALBANY — As the sister of fellow Dougherty County School System Teacher of the Year finalist Timothy Hardwick, Dorcas Robinson echoes many of the comments her brother made about their mother being the driving force behind the siblings becoming teachers.

“Growing up in a household with my mother as an educator, I instantly desired to walk in her shoes,” Robinson, who is a third-grade math teacher at Turner Elementary, said. “As I matriculated through the Dougherty County School System, I had a wealth of teachers that inspired me to deepen my desire to walk in my mother’s footsteps, but to fulfill theirs as well. I can vividly remember assisting my classmates in class, what I refer to now as peer-teaching.

“Being passionate at a young age for everyone in my classroom to be successful was another trigger for me to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher.”

Robinson added that she though her greatest contribution to education is an ability to see her students in the future and not in their current situation.

“Having this ability positions me not to give up on any student while helping them realize their maximum potential,” Robinson said. “Each student has the ability to show growth, and this can happen with constant encouragement, teaching and gradually releasing the student to show you they can do it on their own.”

Robinson said she believes that teaching becomes easier when it is both a passion and a gift.

“When something is a passion, you can eat, live and dream it,” she said. “It takes you over. Seeing a child succeed makes my passion for teaching stronger.”

Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in post-secondary education from Troy State University.

The other 2018 TOY finalists are William Wright III, Albany Middle; Sequaous Walker, Robert Cross Middle; Carol Boges, West Town Elementary; Kanese Rachel, Lincoln Elementary; Jane Maples, Lake Park Elementary; Timothy Hardwick, Radium Springs Elementary, and Jillian Lockette, Alice Coachman Elementary.

Dougherty County’s 2018 Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Merry Acres Events Center.