Robin Whitacre: The Day I Realized I Was the Gorilla

Ever had a coworker suddenly become your boss, and watched the whole dynamic shift overnight? Robin Whitacre has, and she's got the gorilla story to prove it (yes, an actual gorilla, raised by chimpanzees, is involved). In this warm, funny, and reflective conversation, Robin joins Jody, Esther, and Allison to talk about the moment she realized her ideas as a new principal suddenly carried more weight than they used to, and what it took to hand that power back to her teachers. She shares the six-month listening tour (and surprise Native name) that helped turn around the lowest-performing school in the state, plus the staff meetings teachers actually looked forward to. It's equal parts belly laugh and lump in the throat.

Robin’s work in K-12 education spans 35 years, as a classroom teacher, building principal, leadership coach, and professional learning designer and facilitator. In addition to being employed by school districts in Missouri and Colorado, she has built long-term relationships in diverse communities through her extensive coaching work with schools in Denver, Boise, Boston, and the Bureau of Indian Education in the Southwest, as well as her recent work with the Loyola Marymount University Center for Urban Resilience Restorative Justice Project. Robin’s passion is to support educators in bringing creativity, joy, and innovation to their schools and classrooms as they prepare learners for a future that is uncertain, complex, and evolving every day.

For books, resources, and events, visit:
theteacherleader.org

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Math and Movement