Robinson Named District Teacher of the Year

In front of a crowd that included many of her students, her high school teacher Anny Castoro, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, and her mom, Jennifer Robinson, Classen School of Advanced Studies, accepts the Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher of the Year honors at the Stars of Education celebration.

Oklahoma City – It's not every night that someone gets rewarded for a love affair they've been having since 8th grade. Tonight at Stars of Education: A Celebration of Those Who Make a Difference Jennifer Robinson, National Board Certified French teacher at Classen School of Advanced Studies, was honored for her on-going love affair with the French language by being named Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

"As I prepared for high school in the spring of my eighth grade year, I needed to choose a language: Spanish, German, French or Latin. I really had no preference, and like many adolescent girls, let a boy’s decision influence mine. Within the first week of French class, my interest in the boy waned and instead I began flirting with the language," said Robinson.

Robinson continued to study French through high school and college. Her college professor convinced her of the need to study abroad. After five months in France, Robinson spoke the language fluently and had gained self-confidence and independence, but was unsure of a career path. Long, reflective walks in her adopted French town helped Robinson realize that inside her was a teacher; it had been there all along. "I literally grew up in the school environment, helping my mom – a third grade teacher at West Nichols Hills – color and cut to make folder games and learning centers for her classroom…I played school with my brother and the neighbors…Later, I taught music theory at a local piano studio...So while I was still living in France…I made a commitment, applied to the College of Education, and began shouting my love from the rooftops," explained Robinson.

Today you'll find Robinson at Classen School of Advanced Studies sharing her love of the French language and the many cultures of the world touched by the language. She invites French-speakers from around the world in to her class as guest speakers. Not only do students learn how to clearly communicate their message, they also learn about the products, practices and perspectives of each culture.

"I believe that teaching a world language should include teaching the students how to use that language in real-world situations. For that reason, many classroom tasks are centered around situations the students would encounter if they were in a French speaking country. They need to know how to interact in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways with locals when buying food and shopping, adjusting their language and behavior according to the situation," said Robinson.

Heather Sparks, 2009 State Teacher of the Year from Taft Middle School, shares a special moment with the new Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Robinson National Board Certified French teacher from Classen School of Advanced Studies.

Robinson's lessons expand beyond the classroom. Students are challenged to author and read mini-books in French to non-French speaking students. Middle school students debate cultural differences in French. Class projects are presented in English to non-French speaking classmates. When a class embarks on a cultural outing, families are welcome to attend. "I ask my students to teach vocabulary and phrases to someone at home. For example, parents have had assignments to learn basic greetings and courtesies before coming to Open House," said Robinson.

Robinson attends sporting events, theater performances, concerts and art shows in which her students are participating. "By giving of my time to witness student talents outside the classroom, the children know they are valued and are thrilled that I make the effort to acknowledge their hard work in other areas," said Robinson.

Robinson continues to study the language she loves so dearly. She spent a year on a Fulbright Teacher Exchange to France. "Not a day goes by in my classroom where my lessons are not infused with things I learned from my year in France," said Robinson.

Robinson feels fortunate to have had a college professor who inspired her. Every day she tries to pay it forward by inspiring her students to begin their own courtship with the French language and its many cultures.

As District Teacher of the Year, Robinson will represent the Oklahoma City Public Schools District in the Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year competition. Since 2000, three Oklahoma City Public Schools teachers have been named the Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year: (2009) Heather Sparks, Taft Middle School; (2006) Robyn Hilger, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School; and (2001) Talita DeNegri, Northeast Academy.

Many of Oklahoma City Public Schools finest educators were honored at the Stars of Education event.  (Pictured l-r) Sarah Chan, District Teacher of the Year Second Runner-up from Taft Middle School, Jennifer Robinson, District Teacher of the Year from Classen School of Advanced Studies, and Rhonda Taylor, District Teacher of the Year First Runner-up from Mark Twain Elementary.

Tonight's Stars of Education 2009 also recognized Rhonda Taylor, who teaches kindergarten through 5th grade music at Mark Twain Elementary, as first runner-up for District Teacher of the Year. Sarah Chan, who teaches 6th through 12th grade Orchestra at Taft Middle School and Northwest Classen High School, was honored as the second runner-up.

In recognition for their contributions in creating outstanding volunteer and resource support for Oklahoma City Public Schools, American Fidelity Assurance, Christ the King Roman Catholic Church and Mercy Health Center received Perfect Partnership awards. American Fidelity Assurance partners with Buchanan Elementary. Christ the King Roman Catholic Church partners with North Highland Math & Science Academy. Mercy Health Center partners with Linwood Elementary.

This year's Valuable Volunteer honorees were Molly Effland volunteering at Telstar Elementary, Phil Horning volunteering at Linwood Elementary, Andrew James volunteering at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Erma Miller volunteering at Stand Watie Elementary and Margaret Zander volunteering at Van Buren Elementary.

Super Support Staff honors went to Judy Appleton, Hearing Impaired Assistant at Monroe Elementary; Timothy Hurley, JROTC Marine Instructor at U.S. Grant High School; Brittani Keeton, Financial Secretary at Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School; Thelma Pickard, Executive Secretary at Central Office; and DeAnn Schultz, Media Assistant at Taft Middle School.

Jessica Hernandez, STARS Scholarship recipient from Classen School of Advanced Studies, congratulates her teacher Jennifer Robinson, Classen School of Advanced Studies, who was named the District’s Teacher of the Year.  Hernandez was one of four STARS Scholarship recipients to learn during the Stars of Education celebration that her scholarship award amount had been doubled to $2,000.

The evening held a surprise for students selected to receive the STARS (Scholarships for Talented and Remarkable Students) and Thomas W. Utterback STARS Scholarship. These students' scholarship award amounts were doubled to $2,000. STARS Scholarships were awarded to Jessica Hernandez and Nyssa Vasquez, Classen School of Advanced Studies; and Neilee Wood, Harding Charter Preparatory High School. The Thomas W. Utterback STARS Scholarship was awarded to Danielle Mahoney, Classen School of Advanced Studies.

Cory Rutherford, Northwest Classen High School, received the $2,500 Kenneth Donald Burke Scholarship. INTEGRIS Health Minority Student Scholarships in the amount of $5,000 were awarded to Alejandra Campos, Northwest Classen High School; Jessica Lie, Classen School of Advanced Studies; German Martinez, Pathways Middle College High School; Minh Nguyen, Southeast High School; and Thumy Phan, Pathways Middle College High School. Oklahoma City RedHawks' "Catch a Dream" Scholarships for Scholar Athletes in the amount of $2,500 were awarded to Karen Moreno, Northwest Classen High School; and Emma Woods, Classen School of Advanced Studies. William Green, John Marshall High School, received the $1,000 Opio Toure Memorial Scholarship. The Thomas W. Utterback Personal Best Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 was awarded to Juana Ramirez, U.S. Grant High School.

Stars of Education 2009: A Celebration of Those Who Make a Difference was presented by the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Independent Insurance Agents Association of Greater Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Public Schools.

The event was sponsored by the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Greater Oklahoma City, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Devon Energy Corporation, Hartland Productions, The Oklahoman, ProEvents, ARAMARK, Cox Communications Inc., INTEGRIS Health, Metro Technology Centers, OGE Energy Corp., BancFirst, Quad/Graphics, Deep Fork Wood Grill and Seafood, Vox Printing and TLC, the Plant Professionals.