New R-6 superintendent ready for school to begin

SIKESTON — For Dr. Anthony “Tony” Robinson, the path to his educational career may not have been a straight one, but each of the roads he’s taken along his journey have shaped him into the educator and administrator he is today and led him to where he was meant to be — as superintendent of the Sikeston R-6 School District.

When recently recalling the districts he’s worked in over the years — and their mascots — Robinson said he’s been a Hazelwood Central Hawk, McCluer North Star, Ritenour Husky, Pattonville Pirate, Jennings Warrior, Berkeley Bulldog, Cape Central Tiger and now a Sikeston Bulldog.

“You take a piece of each experience with you, and I’ve learned a ton at each one of those places that’s led me to this point. … I had some great experiences and great leadership from great superintendents in each one of those districts,” Robinson said.

Robinson said he changed his college major twice before settling on education. He first majored in hotel business management.

“I just didn’t feel that was where I needed to be and where I was being led to be. I changed my major to the ministry. I wanted to be a pastor, but I still loved coaching and teaching,” he said.

Robinson also had a love of history, which was always one of his favorite subjects.

“As I worked with doing all these Fellowship of Christian Athlete events and working on the campus at Evangel University, I felt I would have a greater impact and touch a lot more kids’ lives as an educator so I changed my major to history and got a secondary education degree,” Robinson said.

His first job out of college was as a graduate assistant at Missouri Western State University, where he also coached football and worked on his master’s degree. He then went to work in the Hazelwood School District as a social studies teacher and football and wrestling coach.

“That was my first teaching job, and I was there for two years and went to teach at my alma mater, McCluer North High School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District,” Robinson recalled. There he coached football, wrestling and track, and he’d also served as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor.

He continued: “At Ferguson-Florissant, I had a really great high school principal who was mentoring and encouraging me, and he thought I should l get into administration. So, I got an administrative role as assistant principal at Berkeley Middle School, and I was there for two years before having the chance to come back to my college alma mater, Evangel University, where I coached football and was a professor.”

After a year, Robinson said there was an opening in the Pattonville School District in the St. Louis area for an assistant principal, which he did for six years. From there, he worked at Ritenour School District for six years as high school principal before accepting a position as the director of secondary education in the Jennings School District, which he did for three years.

The Cape Girardeau School District then reached out to Robinson, and he accepted the position as deputy superintendent.

“I was at Cape for two years, and I saw the opportunity and opening in Sikeston,” Robinson recalled. “I did research and just really thought this was a place that had great potential to do some incredible things. I’d heard so much about how the community was supportive and wanted what was best for kids and the school system. As I started to meet with people and had conversations with people and visited around the town, that just affirmed it for me.”

Robinson was officially hired as Sikeston’s superintendent in late April.

“I was blessed the school board selected me through that process, and I’m just excited to be here,” he said.

Robinson said he’s been working to establish and build relationships with district staff and community residents. He recently attended a Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce breakfast and he and his family attended this week’s rodeo and plan to attend the upcoming Cotton Carnival.

While it is a big task to go out into the community to listen, talk, hear and respond to people, it’s also something he enjoys, Robinson said.

“It’s important to get to know the needs of our kids, our families and our community. That’s why it’s so important to communicate openly and honestly with folks,” he said.

Robinson said he knows Individuals, city officials and businesses are vested in the Sikeston community.

“We’re going to do some awesome things because of that support,” he said.

Robinson recently highlighted his focus and vision in a 90-day/multi-year action plan which is available in its entirety on the Standard Democrat’s website. His leadership focus is “to encourage, inspire, ignite, empower and value all stakeholders in order to create a dynamic, innovative and caring school district that serves all the Sikeston community.”

“I, our central office administrators and principals want community members to be comfortable coming to us, and we want people to know we’re approachable,” Robinson said. “You can reach out to us for help. Your feedback is welcome. We want to be in a partnership and collaboration with our parents and with our community.”

Robinson’s vision, which he developed with R-6 administrators and the school board, includes ensuring transparent, two-way communication involving all stakeholders; achieving district accreditation with distinction and an increase in the districts academic standing in the region and state; and providing updated facilities and technology to the families, students and staff.

Robinson’s vision also includes ensuring the district uses quantitative and qualitative data in order to make data-informed decisions; providing all school-based staff with training, resources and support for the district to become a trauma-informed district; and ensuring the district provides clear, consistent expectations regarding academic and social behavior by communicating effectively with parents and the community.

To create his vision, Robinson said facility concerns at Lee Hunter and C Building at the high school must be addressed and a long-term facilities plan implemented. He said the use of data analytics and analysis for decision-making can be improved, and an increased level of monitoring and accountability through weekly and monthly data reviews and action planning should be implemented.

There also needs to be an increase in collaboration between educational staff, and there needs to be an increase in district and school leadership participation and service on city, chamber, charitable organizations, local boards and event committees, according to Robinson’s plan.

Robinson also said to create the vision, the district needs to continue to raise academic expectations through the addition of rigorous courses, career opportunities and early college opportunities; and develop and implement a long-term strategic plan.

Sikeston’s new school year begins Tuesday, and Robinson said he’s excited to get the new year underway.

“I’m loving the start of the school year because everyone has been so great and supportive,” he said. “It makes me feel honored to be a Sikeston Bulldog.”