City Mourns the Passing of Former Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson

Unscripted (Commentary) By Keith Edmonds
FWIS Contributing Writer

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” ~James 1:12

The scripture above echoes the sentiments of many students, teachers, and our educational community as this past week we learned of the unfortunate passing of Dr. Wendy Robinson who served as an educator and superintendent for a total of 47 years in our city. Dr Robinson’s contributions and impact go far and beyond her measured success as she has been described as a “changemaker”, by being the first female and first African American along with being the first FWCS graduate to be named superintendent of the district. To try to describe her influence and mentorship for so many in our city and school system would be futile for me to attempt as so many of us that were a part of the educational landscape of FWCS were deeply touched by Dr. Robinson’s (too numerous to name) contributions. She’s been honored for her leadership roles and was known nationally for her work in leading the state’s largest school district to the thriving, innovative, and prosperous “community of learners” that it is today. Being at the forefront of all of this was a role she cherished.

Being a leader requires courage, discipline, and determination. While a great leader can bring great success, it also comes at the cost of being judged and overwhelmed. To encapsulate her humility in sharing her successes in FWCS, when Dr. Robinson was awarded as Indiana’s Superintendent of the year in 2018, she surmised it this way… “I don’t see this as something for me. I see it as a recognition of the work that happens in this district every single day. And that makes it more important that people recognize there are great things happening in the district because of the people in it.” Dr. Robinson was often quoted as saying “I just keep my head down and do what I have to do right now, by doing my job well, things happen as there is no next step that is better than what’s going on right now.”

Personally, I was proud to have worked for Dr. Robinson and we both grew up in the very same neighborhood where I became great friends with her brother Bill. Obviously, I never dreamed that she would one day become my co-worker and eventually my boss, but I did see some unique qualities that separated her from others as she carried herself differently. She had swag (before the term became cool today) and was always looking out for her mom and family members. As I became an educator and used to see her in the various buildings in FWCS, I will always remember her being a strong advocate for students and those of us that worked with them. A very proud moment for me was when she was so supportive of myself and my boys’ basketball team as we made our run towards the IHSAA State Basketball title in 2003 with words of support and encouragement and she also presented me with a “Proclamation of March 23, 2003, being Elmhurst High School Day which I will always remember… There are so many people that I could have reached out to for comments, and I appreciate those of you that took the time to pen your regards about Dr. Robinson in the thoughtful responses that I have received. I wanted to take this moment to share a few of the many I received.

“Dr. Robinson was a friend and mentor. I learned so much by simply observing her passion to persuade others to action. She was a gifted orator who could convey her vision to an audience, and spoke with such confidence and eloquence, that I was always motivated to engage others in rallying her goals for Fort Wayne Community Schools.”

~ Matt Schiebel Administrator FWCS

“The thing I will remember the most about Dr. Robinson was her commitment to the students of Fort Wayne Community Schools. Dr. Robinson demonstrated her commitment with her student-centered approach to decision making. She truly believed that the students of FWCS deserved the best education, opportunities and nothing was going to stand in her way of making it happen for the students.”

~ Carlton Mable Asst. Superintendent, Kokomo School Corporation

“I met Dr. Robinson, long before she became Superintendent of FWCS. I was a volunteer coach of a youth baseball team, on which Dr. Robinson's son played. Despite her busy schedule, Dr. Robinson regularly attended the games and actively cheered us on. When Dr. Robinson became superintendent. She was kind and friendly towards me when she visited Lakeside, and she always came down to my classroom to greet me with a kind word, a big smile, and a warm hug. Dr. Robinson was a trailblazer in the field of public education, and she will be missed by many.” ~Kenn Causey, Teacher FWCS for over 35 years.

“Dr. Robinson used to be my 3rd grade teacher at Ward Elementary and was always pleasant and fun to be in class with. Even though that was over 40 years ago, whenever I would see her publicly, she would smile, give me a hug, and call me by first name which always made me smile.” ~ Lavonya Cleveland-Edmonds, former student Ward Elementary

“Dr. Wendy Y. Robinson was a trailblazer in education. She served as a visionary and held all educators surrounding her accountable for ensuring that “all students were educated to high standards.” She was a matriarch for many African American women and paved the way for those who were charged to carry the torch forward. Dr. Wendy Robinson was not afraid to confront the injustices that many students faced in their day-to-day lives. Her legacy lives now and forever more…

~Shenita V. Bolton, Ed.S., Director of K-12 College and Career Readiness FWCS

Dr. Robinson had this quiet, calm demeanor and presence, and carried herself in a manner that depicted someone of royalty as a district leader. She was unafraid to tackle the tough issues that confronted her with resolve, (The closing of Elmhurst High School in 2010) and had the wherewithal (handling the district’s financial crunch with technology needs and staff shortages) to navigate our districts demands like the sure hands of a surgeon and kept FWCS on the cutting edge of educational development, and A+ ratings for our premier schools. She was a pioneer, mentor, and staunch advocate for teachers, and someone that could be trusted to “look out” not only for the district she passionately served and lead, but the students she lovingly called her “babies.” Yes, we’ve lost a good one in the passing of Dr. Wendy Robinson, but her legacy lives on through those she touched directly or indirectly with grace, dignity, and unmatched professionalism. A life well-lived… that is Dr. Wendy Robinson, FWCS educational stalwart for over 47 years, thank you so much for saying yes to entering education and making a huge difference in the lives of so many.