SPS Teacher of the Year strives to give children a purpose and 'place of belonging'
Minutes after Robin Davidson's name was called, he stepped to podium at the Celebrate SPS event and fired off an icebreaker.
"Since I'm the one standing here, this is clearly not a beauty contest," he joked. Motioning to the other four finalists, he said: "They are way better looking than I am."
Then he told them: "Incidentally, every one of you are probably as good or better a teacher than I am."
The fourth-grade teacher at Gray Elementary, in his 24th year as an educator, was named Springfield Public Schools' Teacher of the Year for 2023-24.
He spoke, in moving terms, about his colleagues and mentors, the principals he has learned from, and his wife and children. He also thanked God for guiding him to find his calling and the "SPS family."
"My goal as a teacher is really simple. I frame excellence in education with two things, giving the child a place of belonging and giving them a sense of purpose," he said.
The father of nine children, who is expecting a ninth grandchild soon, said children flourish when they feel loved and have high expectations to reach.
"First I want to thank — at my age with this big old gray beard — the hundreds of kids that I've taught for their acceptance, for their involvement, for their embrace of me," he said.
Davidson's acceptance speech marked the end of the annual Celebrate SPS event, which started in 1994 and was known for years as the Teacher Appreciation Banquet. The event is sponsored by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.
At least 750 people were signed up to attend the event at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center.
This year, Missouri State University sponsored the Teacher of the Year award and MSU President Clif Smart gave the introduction for the five finalists, including Davidson.
He noted the university started 118 years ago as a teacher education institution.
"Today, we produce more teachers, coaches, librarians and counselors than any other university in Missouri," Smart said. "One out of eight teachers in our state holds a credential from Missouri State. I'm sure that percentage is much higher in this room tonight."
The other finalists included:
Josh Cantrell, Central High;
Rachel Hoing, Sequiota Elementary;
Tiffany Lynch, Pipkin Middle;
Sam Shelton, Central High.
"The Teacher of the Year award goes to an educator who shows such fervor in the field of education as to stand above the rest," he said.
A year ago, Nathan Cook, choir director at Parkview High School, won the honor. He was the keynote speaker for the event, using balloons to illustrate lessons: Be filled, be flexible, bring joy, make movement not annoying noise and be strong alongside each other.
More: Parkview High School choir director named Springfield's 2023 Teacher of the Year
"Like balloons we can be stronger and accomplish more together, alongside others," he said. "Teaching alongside others at Parkview High School has been one of the most satisfying, joy-filling, challenging and exciting, inspiring gifts of my teaching career."
Throughout the evening, other awards were announced:
Advocate for Education: Matthew Simpson;
Rookie of the Year: Alexis Cooper, fifth grade teacher, Williams Elementary;
Linda Luke Librarian of the Year: Jill Norman, Cowen Elementary;
Counselor of the year: Phil Jones, Weller Elementary;
Corporate Partner of the Year: CoxHealth.
In 2002, the Turner Reading Awards were established. This year's recipients included:
Bobbi Beard, Weller Elementary;
Jill Norman, Cowden Elementary;
Krista Payne, Disney Elementary;
Jodi Pitts, Central High;
Claire Spence, Glendale High.
Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS Teacher of the Year strives to give children 'place of belonging'
