New principal an educator at heart

“M&M’s peanut butter candies are a favorite, as are Reese’s cups,” said Paul Robinson, the school’s new principal.  “I also love chocolate chip cookies. These are the reasons I ride a bike and play basketball.”

From the glass bowl of tempting rainbow M&Ms on his table to the blue bike that hangs vertically behind his desk, there is much more to this Oklahoma City-born man than meets the eye.

In college at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Robinson’s friends recognized him by his long, beach-blond hair. He occupied his spare time by writing short stories, poetry and song lyrics—when he wasn’t playing sports.

“I’m not an avid cyclist, but I like to ride to stay in shape and see the countryside,” Robinson said.  “Athletics have always played a huge part of my life.”

Robinson played football, basketball and tennis in high school, and continued to play the latter two in college.  Basketball helped pay for his education, and he played on a USA national team one summer, touring South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. Even now, he makes an effort to play basketball because of his love for the game. 

Robinson credits his coaches and teachers with his decision to become an educator.

“Because my dad died when I was 2 years old, many of my teachers and coaches became the dads I never had,” Robinson said.  “No telling what I would be without them in my life.”

Now as an administrator himself, Robinson has become the type of role model that he looked up to as a student.  Principal’s secretary Susan Dini describes Robinson as relaxed, kid-friendly, and down to earth.

“He’s a really, really nice man and great to work with,” Dini said.

Robinson was previously the principal of Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, where he had lived most of his life. His wife is currently the principal of a San Diego elementary school. 

“We see each other every other weekend, but we call, text, and Skype every day,” he said. 

His daughter is married to a youth minister in Georgia and has two children: a two-and-a-half-year-old boy and a 14-month-old girl.

Robinson had an aptitude for literature and writing in high school and was able to combine that with his love of sports as an educator.  

“Teaching English and coaching were a natural fit,” Robinson said.  “I taught English for 17 years until they made me put a tie on and move into the office as an administrator.”

Throughout his career, maintaining a close relationship with his students has been very important to Robinson.  About seven years ago, Robinson received an unexpected email from a curious former student named Bobbie who was wondering if she had reached her former mentor.

“I wrote back to say I was, and that I remember pulling her off of a young man she was beating up one day in elementary school.  I told her that one day she would like boys,” Robinson said.

Bobbie went on to become Robinson’s teaching assistant for two years and kept the statistics for the basketball team that Robinson coached.  After Bobbie graduated, Robinson changed schools and they lost touch for over 30 years until they were reunited by Bobbie’s email.  Bobbie shared with Robinson what a positive influence he had been in her life.

“She also wrote that she was thankful I had been there for her when she was battling her mom’s alcoholism,” Robinson said.  “If it wasn’t for me she never would have gone to college and pursued her passion—art.”

Today, Bobbie is a successful watercolor artist in the Seattle area and two of her works hang in Robinson’s office.  One of her paintings, of a lighthouse, is dedicated to him.

Because he had lived in San Diego for so long, Robinson had a tough time settling into Saratoga at first.

“It was hard, but I’m very excited to be here and make new friends,” he said. “I’m excited to learn more about NorCal life. I love the history of the area, and the rich culture of art and performing arts,” he added. 

In terms of personal goals, Robinson hopes to help wherever he can. 

“I want to serve our students and staff in any way they need me,” he said.  “I plan on being here a long time, and I want it to really count.”

He added, “I get to go to school every day with the brightest and best students and staff in America. It doesn’t get any better than that for an educator.”