HIGHLIGHT: VIRGINIA
Richmond: As a veteran teacher at a troubled high school, Rodney Robinson wanted to understand why so many teens go directly from school to prison. So he took a job teaching at a juvenile detention center. Four years later, he’s been chosen the 2019 National Teacher of the Year for his dedication to helping disadvantaged students move beyond their mistakes. “I give my kids empathy, not sympathy, and that’s the key,” he says. His selection was announced Wednesday by the Council of Chief State School Officers. He says he plans to focus on ensuring equity for all students and recruiting more black and Hispanic men to teach.