There are over 3,000 teachers in the Springfield Public Schools district and only one can be chosen for teacher of the year.

   On April 17, 2023 Robin Davidson was announced as the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year.

   Davidson works at Wanda Gray Elementary as a fourth grade teacher.

   Nearly nine years ago I met Mr. Davidson for the first time. He was my fourth grade teacher. 

     The impact he had on me then that has carried through the rest of my life is immense to say the least. I immediately felt loved and safe in his classroom. 

   He took on a fatherly role for the class and insistently reminded us how much he loved all of us. He would throw us monthly parties to reward good behavior, frequently start our days with dance parties, let us eat lunch with him from time to time, and ultimately pushed us to be the best we could be in and out of the classroom.

   I remember having my mom nominate Mr. Davidson for teacher of the year when he was my teacher, so when I heard he won it I was beyond happy for him. 

     There is no one more deserving than him. I felt a sense of pride and honor knowing that my favorite teacher I ever had was getting the recognition he so deserved.

     Davidson has been teaching for 24 years and is eligible for retirement, but is currently choosing not to because he is not ready to leave the classroom yet.

     Davidson had been nominated for Teacher of the Year numerous times, but never followed up on the nomination. He found out he was nominated for 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year back in February.

     “I didn’t want to mess with it, I just want to teach and then just leave me alone. My wife is my biggest fan. When I told her I had never followed up with the nomination process, she told me that out of respect for the people who nominated me, I needed to at least try once,” Davidson said.

     Once a teacher is nominated then they have to write a 1,500 character biography and personal opinion on education philosophy. Along with that, the nominees had to send a minute long video about what you would tell a fellow teacher and things you would like to see in the field of education.

     370 people were nominated initially, then after a couple rounds it was down to five finalists. They each did interviews and answered about ten questions in front of an educational decision board.

     On Monday, April 17th at the Teacher of the Year banquet the five finalists were called to the stage. Then, Robin Davidson was announced as the 2023-2024 SPS Teacher of the Year.

     “The first thing I said when they called my name was ‘Clearly this isn’t a beauty pageant because I’m the one standing up here,’” Davidson said.

     In general being Teacher of the Year means you are a representative of your district. This will come easily to Davidson because of his love for SPS as a district and Wanda Gray as his home school.

     “It’s a weird thing after the beauty pageant comment. I looked at the other four finalists and said you all are as good of a teacher as me or better. You can’t pick out just one teacher of the year out of 3000. [to me Teacher of the Year] does mean that somebody has taken time to recognize that you have done what you are supposed to do. You did right by me as a student or coworker or parent. There’s somebody that has felt strong enough to nominate you and cared enough to nominate me,” Davidson said.

     Since winning this award many of Davidson’s former students reached out to him.

     “I taught at Westport several years ago, and after I won, a girl that I had taught messaged me and told her that she only felt safe in my classroom. I felt so honored to hear from so many students reaching out after I won,” Davidson said.

     On behalf of the immeasurable number of people Mr. Davidson has touched, there is no one more deserving to be the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year for the Springfield Public Schools district.

     Thank you Mr. Davidson for the kindness, compassion, and love you have given me throughout the years. You have made a difference in my life and helped push me to be the person I am today.