New assistant principals become role models
Posted: 9/30/2009
By Duanne Puckett
Henry Robbins and Andy Moore may not be the tallest men in their schools but they certainly hope students look up to them. Both former teachers have become assistant principals in Shelby County Public Schools -- the first two men to hold such positions in a local elementary school setting.
Superintendent James Neihof said, "Our other assistant principals in the elementary schools happen to be females and are excellent role models themselves. However, so many children may not have a male figure in their life with whom they can make a connection. I am encouraged by the positive relationships that these two young men can develop using their own experiences as foundations."
Those foundations are from entirely different circumstances. Yet, each consistently used the phrase "I looked up to him ..." as they referred to that special man in their life.
Robbins said his grandmother and mother were his role models, both as high school dropouts working hard to raise him in what he described as a struggling environment. "But they always preached getting a good education to us."
The breadwinner in the family was his grandfather, who worked for the railroad for 35 years.
"I looked up to him," Robbins said, recalling how "he was the backbone of the family, not talkative, more into action. His word meant he would do it. He had no formal education at all. He signed his name by writing an X."
On the other end of the spectrum is Moore, whose father is a career educator in Kenton County with 20 years in the classroom plus varying roles as an educational consultant. His brother is a secondary school teacher. His mother-in-law is a retired middle school teacher. His wife, Paula, is a school counselor.
"I was surrounded with education from all angles and could see what a rewarding career it can be," he said, mentioning that his father was the 1991Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
"I looked up to the him," Moore said, adding that his mother was an area supervisor for Long John Silver's and traveled, so he spent a lot of time with his father. "He is a people person; everywhere we went people respected him. As an adult I realized that part of what carries your name is his name. So my name has a certain amount of value because of what I am doing now."
Robbins, on the other hand, understands the amount of value attached to his name because of the close ties to his family and hometown in Georgia. He described it as a small town with four schools and a diverse community. His grandmother and mother taught him "to work hard for whatever you want." He learned that at an early age, too, since the family "grew everything we ate or raised everything we ate." His after-school job was always chores at home, recalling day after day of "chopping wood, bringing in water from the well because there were no pipes into the house, and feeding animals."
Robbins believes those experiences helped mold him into the person he is today. Now as an assistant principal at Wright Elementary, he's excited to "see myself as a role model and build relationships to help them see there is light even if not traditional family setting."
His wife, Melanie, is a special education teacher at Southside Elementary who, like Moore, comes from a long line of educators. Now that they have two sons, ages 6 and 1, Robbins said, "Being a father brings a lot of pressure. It keeps me on my toes. It keeps me motivated and I think back to those situations growing up and I get goose bumps again."
Robbins described himself as a quiet child. His fourth-grade teacher, Miss Calloway, noticed his shyness and "brought me out, made me talk using encouragement, not dictatorship." He particularly remembers being the last person in the classroom spelling bee and incorrectly spelling the word " 'rowboat,' and she knew I did it on purpose because she knew I didn't want to be in the spotlight."
He is in the spotlight now, sporting a shirt and tie every day.
"I want to be a role model, especially for boys," he said. "They don't tend to see very many males in education. I want to empower them to know dreams can come true and that when you work hard that things will happen in positive ways for you."
Moore agrees. He initially started working in construction, not realizing education would become his career choice. He remembers key people who encouraged him and took him under their wings, passing along much-needed wisdom to the young man who is now assistant principal at Simpsonville Elementary.
He still remembers advice from his first year in teaching: "building relationships is foundational. Respect and caring must be in place. The key thing is to make sure students want to come to school, and that when they go home they are excited and happy."
Robbins remembers his happiest moment was when he was introduced to football in high school.
"From the moment I stepped onto that field, I was like a kid in a candy store. It was a blessing in disguise. I knew that was my ticket out," he said, noting that he received a scholarship to college and eventually graduated from Kentucky State University with a degree in physical education.
"The first time they sent me out into school settings, I got goose bumps, knowing this is what I am supposed to be doing. Kids were like glue on me. It set a warm feeling in my body. I knew I was supposed to be helping and motivating children," said the former Simpsonville Elementary teacher who has a master's from Georgetown College and administration certification from the University of Cincinnati.
Moore came to Shelby County from Oldham County, where he had been teaching fifth grade for five years. The father of two children, aged 5 and 3, has a degree from the University of Kentucky and a master's from Northern Kentucky University in Instructional Leadership -- all part of the goals he set for himself. He is now training for a marathon, a task he strived to complete before turning 30. His wife helps hold him accountable. "I have mapped out my career and by putting God and my family first, I sit with confidence knowing I will be a principal within five years."
He uses the same philosophy with students: "I set high yet attainable goals with my students. Students are bright and capable and by not holding them accountable with high expectations, we do them a major disservice."
Robbins knows his family had high expectations for him. In regards to his newest appointment, he said his mother was not surprised because she called him a disciplined individual. His grandmother always thought he wanted more out of life and "she would have just smiled, which would have been enough praise for me."
Superintendent James Neihof said, "Our other assistant principals in the elementary schools happen to be females and are excellent role models themselves. However, so many children may not have a male figure in their life with whom they can make a connection. I am encouraged by the positive relationships that these two young men can develop using their own experiences as foundations."
Those foundations are from entirely different circumstances. Yet, each consistently used the phrase "I looked up to him ..." as they referred to that special man in their life.
Robbins said his grandmother and mother were his role models, both as high school dropouts working hard to raise him in what he described as a struggling environment. "But they always preached getting a good education to us."
The breadwinner in the family was his grandfather, who worked for the railroad for 35 years.
"I looked up to him," Robbins said, recalling how "he was the backbone of the family, not talkative, more into action. His word meant he would do it. He had no formal education at all. He signed his name by writing an X."
On the other end of the spectrum is Moore, whose father is a career educator in Kenton County with 20 years in the classroom plus varying roles as an educational consultant. His brother is a secondary school teacher. His mother-in-law is a retired middle school teacher. His wife, Paula, is a school counselor.
"I was surrounded with education from all angles and could see what a rewarding career it can be," he said, mentioning that his father was the 1991Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
"I looked up to the him," Moore said, adding that his mother was an area supervisor for Long John Silver's and traveled, so he spent a lot of time with his father. "He is a people person; everywhere we went people respected him. As an adult I realized that part of what carries your name is his name. So my name has a certain amount of value because of what I am doing now."
Robbins, on the other hand, understands the amount of value attached to his name because of the close ties to his family and hometown in Georgia. He described it as a small town with four schools and a diverse community. His grandmother and mother taught him "to work hard for whatever you want." He learned that at an early age, too, since the family "grew everything we ate or raised everything we ate." His after-school job was always chores at home, recalling day after day of "chopping wood, bringing in water from the well because there were no pipes into the house, and feeding animals."
Robbins believes those experiences helped mold him into the person he is today. Now as an assistant principal at Wright Elementary, he's excited to "see myself as a role model and build relationships to help them see there is light even if not traditional family setting."
His wife, Melanie, is a special education teacher at Southside Elementary who, like Moore, comes from a long line of educators. Now that they have two sons, ages 6 and 1, Robbins said, "Being a father brings a lot of pressure. It keeps me on my toes. It keeps me motivated and I think back to those situations growing up and I get goose bumps again."
Robbins described himself as a quiet child. His fourth-grade teacher, Miss Calloway, noticed his shyness and "brought me out, made me talk using encouragement, not dictatorship." He particularly remembers being the last person in the classroom spelling bee and incorrectly spelling the word " 'rowboat,' and she knew I did it on purpose because she knew I didn't want to be in the spotlight."
He is in the spotlight now, sporting a shirt and tie every day.
"I want to be a role model, especially for boys," he said. "They don't tend to see very many males in education. I want to empower them to know dreams can come true and that when you work hard that things will happen in positive ways for you."
Moore agrees. He initially started working in construction, not realizing education would become his career choice. He remembers key people who encouraged him and took him under their wings, passing along much-needed wisdom to the young man who is now assistant principal at Simpsonville Elementary.
He still remembers advice from his first year in teaching: "building relationships is foundational. Respect and caring must be in place. The key thing is to make sure students want to come to school, and that when they go home they are excited and happy."
Robbins remembers his happiest moment was when he was introduced to football in high school.
"From the moment I stepped onto that field, I was like a kid in a candy store. It was a blessing in disguise. I knew that was my ticket out," he said, noting that he received a scholarship to college and eventually graduated from Kentucky State University with a degree in physical education.
"The first time they sent me out into school settings, I got goose bumps, knowing this is what I am supposed to be doing. Kids were like glue on me. It set a warm feeling in my body. I knew I was supposed to be helping and motivating children," said the former Simpsonville Elementary teacher who has a master's from Georgetown College and administration certification from the University of Cincinnati.
Moore came to Shelby County from Oldham County, where he had been teaching fifth grade for five years. The father of two children, aged 5 and 3, has a degree from the University of Kentucky and a master's from Northern Kentucky University in Instructional Leadership -- all part of the goals he set for himself. He is now training for a marathon, a task he strived to complete before turning 30. His wife helps hold him accountable. "I have mapped out my career and by putting God and my family first, I sit with confidence knowing I will be a principal within five years."
He uses the same philosophy with students: "I set high yet attainable goals with my students. Students are bright and capable and by not holding them accountable with high expectations, we do them a major disservice."
Robbins knows his family had high expectations for him. In regards to his newest appointment, he said his mother was not surprised because she called him a disciplined individual. His grandmother always thought he wanted more out of life and "she would have just smiled, which would have been enough praise for me."
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