It’s a homecoming for Chaparral’s principal

By Emily Sorensen

Chaparral Elementary will be welcoming back one of their own this school year.

The school’s new principal, Robin Robinson, isn’t new to the school. In fact, Robinson previously served there as an assistant principal. “It’s nice to come back,” said Robinson. “It’s nice to come back to the community where [my husband and I] raised our own child. It feels like home.”

Robinson has been the principal of Creekside Elementary School for eight years, and will be bringing all those years of expertise to her new school.

Teaching was actually a second career for Robinson, who earned a degree in psychology from Biola University and worked in hospice and health care administration before making the move over to teaching. She has worked in the Poway Unified School District for 22 years, as a teacher at Twin Peaks Middle School, then as a Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) at Poway High School, as well as an assistant principal at Chaparral and at Westview High School. “I’ve almost made the full circle,” said Robinson of her return to Chaparral.

“I’m not planning on making any big changes,” said Robinson. “It’s all about reflecting, seeing where we are, and what we need to help the kids.” Robinson said Chaparral is a great school with a great reputation already. The school serves both Poway and Rancho Bernardo.

Robinson also said that one area Chaparral Elementary had already been working on when she joined as principal was how to personalize learning for the students. One way Chaparral will be doing this is by giving iPads to all the teachers to use in their instruction to help kids develop critical thinking skills. “Hopefully in the next few years, we’ll be able to get technology into the kids’ hands,” said Robinson.

Returning to the school where she not only served as assistant principal but where her own daughter attended has been a welcome event. “I love the staff [at Chaparral],” said Robinson. “I know about three-fourths of them from before, and the Rancho Bernardo community keeps in touch [with each other].”

Robinson described her administration style as “very hands-on,” saying that staff and students could expect to see her in the classrooms and at school events. “But I also know my role is to support the teachers, students and parents,” said Robinson. “I consider myself a servant. I’m here to serve them.”