Whereas, on April 24, 2019, Rodney Robinson was named National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers; Whereas Rodney Robinson is a social studies teacher at Virgie Binford Education Center inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center; Whereas since he began teaching at Virgie Binford Education Center in 2015, Mr. Robinson has worked with disadvantaged youth, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to move forward and accomplish their goals; Whereas Mr. Robinson’s work to help our most vulnerable students achieve educational excellence has improved the academic performance of countless students, strengthening reading proficiency and working to ensure students graduate on time; Whereas Mr. Robinson helps disadvantaged youth realize their full potential by boosting self-esteem and creating a nurturing, safe, and inclusive environment where every student is encouraged to discuss the issues in their communities and past; Whereas Mr. Robinson inspires his students to overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams by adorning the barren walls of Virgie Binford Education Center with college pennants and photos of inspirational historical figures; Whereas Mr. Robinson is quoted as saying, My kids have overcome some tremendous odds and been through some traumatic, horrific circumstances, yet they still triumph, they still have dreams, they will want to be doctors and lawyers and everything you can [think] of … Helping kids channel all that energy and dreams into something positive where they can see an outcome and a result, that is what I love most about teaching. ; Whereas while attending the Yale National Initiative, Mr. Robinson developed his own student-focused curriculum for his social studies classes, empowering students to advocate for societal change by exploring social justice issues, the history of the United States prison system, the effects of racial segregation, and more