Dr. Louis Robinson, retired school administrator and music teacher, thrives as a leader who understands it takes a team to succeed.
Robinson grew up in a small town in South Carolina, the son of sharecroppers and the youngest of 10 kids.
“Hard work wasn’t foreign to us. It taught us a lot about life. You learn how to navigate around the setbacks and the difficulties,” he said. “Mom and dad really instilled in us good character and making sure you do what’s in the best interest, not only for yourself but others, as well.”
In the same way his parents worked the earth, Robinson’s work begins by planting a seed to help his students flourish.
“It is about cultivating, not only the product but the person,” he said. “It grows, and it’s amazing what happens when you take the time to nurture and build and care for a human being.”
He found a passion for music, picking up the tuba early and he still has not put it down. His teachers and band directors spotted a talent in him and encouraged him to continue pursuing it.
“That was sort of the catalyst for me in terms of trying to figure out what I wanted to be in life.”
As a music teacher, he loves the challenge of finding the harmony in blending together different musicians of different skill levels on different instruments. It is a beautiful moment when everything comes together.
“They paint a picture that you want the audience to see.”
At the urging of many near and dear to him, he made the move into administration after 11 years in the classroom.
“I am who I am because of all the wonderful people who came into my life,” he said. “I think it was really about the encouragement from the people who saw something that I didn’t see at the time.”
Robinson started out as an assistant principal, then principal at North Fayette Elementary. After moving to East Fayette Elementary, he was tapped to lead Inman Elementary when it opened in 2008. He led the Eagles until his retirement in 2021.
The move from teaching into administration was a major change that was both daunting and fulfilling.
“It’s a big classroom with bigger challenges but great rewards,” he said. “You have to figure out how to make it work, and you have to realize, too, that you can’t do it all by yourself. You’ve got more help, and you’ve got more resources.”
Even though he retired from full-time work, he stays in education. Whether he is filling in as a substitute administrator or consulting with full bands or private students, he is always making room to share his talents with others. The bonds he builds are what build him up.
“It’s about relationships. It’s about people,” he said. “It’s about winning with people.”
The people are what made every day of work worthwhile, being a team working towards the same goal of lifting up the students.
“I’m a blessing to you, and you’re a blessing to me,” he said. “What can we do for and with each other to help each other be better. I think, for me, that’s the bottom line.”
“The Honor Role,” an official podcast for Fayette County Public Schools, features employees, rotating through key stakeholders, including teachers, staff, nurses, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. Join us as we dive in and learn about their journeys, their inspirations, and their whys.
Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and promoted on the social media channels of Fayette County Public Schools.
Episodes will also be available here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2200811.
Posted 1/21/2025
