She’s not a Hatfield but she is a McCoy. She might prefer to hang out with Grizzly Bears. She’s 5’ 3” but tough as nails. Who is it? Ms. Donna Robinson, of course, our Math teacher extraordinaire.
Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Ms. Robinson was a quiet standout at Manatee High School. She was an academic but also competed in Cross Country, Swimming and as an Equestrian. After high school, she attended Smith College competing collegiately with Cross Country and on the Equestrian Team. She later transferred to Wake Forest University, competed in the same activities, majored in Biology, and minored in Math. After graduation, she continued at Wake and received a M.S. in Biology. It was there as a teaching assistant she had the opportunity to teach basketball sensation 5’ 3” Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player to ever play in the NBA.
During those years, Ms. Robinson did some pretty cool stuff! She lived in Spain for a year and only spoke Spanish. She was an adjunct Biology professor at High Point University. She developed a love for teaching at the Teton Science School in Jackson, Wyoming. She was a NOLS Instructor working in South Dakota, Yellowstone and Utah. And yes, she hung out with Grizzly mamas and cubs in their Yellowstone caves taking statistical measures to assess hibernation patterns.
Ms. Robinson is not only a gifted teacher, she’s a natural, not just with math but any subject, including outdoor skills. With math, she said, “My students come in terrified and say ‘I can’t do math.’ I love it when
I can’t
becomes
I can
.” More than loving math and her students, Ms. Robinson sees teaching as a calling from God to use gifts He’s given her. Her relationship with the Lord fuels everything she does, including her commitment to prayer. She said, “I can’t imagine not having prayer in my life. Having the opportunity to pray is one of the things I like best about VCHS.
As to the love of her life, it’s Charlie. Nineteen years ago, Ms. Robinson was teaching a Statistics course at CMC and Charlie was her student. They’ve been joined at the hip ever since. As to hobbies, anything in the backcountry that’s “as far away from pavement as possible.” As to purpose in her 10
th
year at VCHS, “encouraging lifelong learners to find joy in learning for a lifetime.”
Ms. Robinson, lives of purpose…
