Black man, Rodney Robinson of Virginia chosen as National Teacher of the Year against the odds, meets Pres. Trump
By Mona Austin
5/3/19
It isn't every day that a Black man is recognized for education at the highest level or that he gets to shake the hand of the President of the United States in recognition of a job well done. African Americans have grappled with the harsh notion that there are more Black men in prison than the grave or in college for years and due the prison pipeline, Black boys are headed in the same direction. White there is no statistical record of this dismal narrative, it has been hammered into the heads of Black people for so long it has become an accepted belief. Rodney Robinson, the 2019 Teacher of the Year, is radiant example that not all Black men are failures and that Black teen boys can make it despite early detours in life. In his role as an educator, Robinson represents the male figure many of his students don't have in their lives.
The 2019 Teacher of the Year did not come from a traditional classroom setting. Robinson teaches at the Virgie Binford Education Center in Richmond, VA, a school inside a juvenile detention facility. Along with award-winning teachers from around the country, Robinson met Pres. Trump in the Oval Office on Monday. The Social Studies and History teacher said that Trump expressed appreciation for his line of work: "He was happy that I was giving the kids a second chance."
Robinson's win was announced on CBS This Morning where he said, "America is a country of second chances and in order for them to achieve and get that second chance, they deserve a quality education like everybody else," he said.
In a separate ceremony, Sec. of Education Betsey Devos told Robinson, "Rodney, you were recently asked whether your students are 'different' simply because of where they learn. I loved your answer. You said, 'America is a country of second chances, and in order for them to achieve and get that second chance,' you said, 'they deserve a quality education like everybody else.'"
DeVos said that she and Trump also "believe in the power of redemption." She pointed out the president's approval of the First Step Act, a prison-reform bill that benefits ex-offenders reentering society and the Second Chance Pell program, an Obama-administration initiative that the Trump administration has continued, allowing incarcerated students to qualify for Pell Grants.
Smith was not the only Black man in the room being honored, but historically there have been more women than men and more Whites than Blacks receiving the honor.
Two educators boycotted the event stating they could not support an administration that has harmed the immigrant, LGBQT and refugee populations. Read more abut why they snubbed the opportunity here.