Ms. Robbins brings energy, realness, and high expectations to her 9th and 10th grade math classes every single day. Her path to teaching was shaped by a teacher who believed in her before she fully believed in herself.

“My high school math teacher pushed me to be better,” she reflects. She had him twice, and that repeated investment made a lasting impression. It planted a seed that eventually grew into a career dedicated to doing the same for her own students.

When it comes to her favorite content to teach, Ms. Robbins gravitates toward topics that feel relevant to students’ real lives. She loves finding the balance between concepts that connect to her students personally and those that stretch their thinking in new directions. For her, the best math lessons are the ones where students suddenly see why any of it matters.

Building confidence in students who are intimidated by math is something Ms. Robbins takes seriously. Rather than talking down to struggling learners, she treats them like equals. She also uses an unconventional but effective move: she asks them to teach her. Explaining a concept out loud forces students to organize their thinking and often reveals just how much they actually understand.

In her classroom, structure is everything. Ms. Robbins sets clear expectations from day one and uses the board consistently to keep lessons visible and students anchored. The routine creates a sense of stability that helps students focus on the work rather than the chaos.

Her advice for becoming a stronger math student is simple but powerful. “At least try. It’s okay to be wrong. You can’t learn if you don’t.”

Outside of school, Ms. Robbins is at the gym every day, a commitment that might surprise her students. She is also working on something that shows real humility for someone who teaches for a living: she wants to become a stronger reader.

One lesson from her students has genuinely changed her approach. After noticing how much phones pulled attention away from learning, she became much more intentional about limiting their presence in the classroom.

Above all, Ms. Robbins hopes students carry one message with them long after they leave her class. “Always advocate for yourself. Talk to adults; talk to teachers. Don’t be scared.”