On January 19, Principal Mark Robinson walked the halls of James Bowie High School one last time before his retirement. Over the course of the ten years he’s been at Bowie, Robinson has worked hard to make Bulldog Nation into a tight knit community. His consistent involvement in school activities and events have left a positive impact on students, staff, and parents.
Robinson made sure every day started off right by greeting students and staff with encouragement during the morning announcements. He would go beyond just sharing information about the coming school week. Robinson worked to make all students feel included and accepted at Bowie, and he was able to accomplish this by highlighting individual student and team achievements, promoting sporting and theatre events, and highlighting month-long observances, like Black or Women’s History month, all through the morning announcements. As he would sign off for the day, Robinson would always make sure to say “You belong at Bowie.”
He’d make sure to practice what he’d preach by showing up to school events whenever possible. For example, he was on the sidelines of every football game to support the team, as well as the dancers and color guard. He also spoke at every pep rally in order to hype up students and promote Bulldog pride, and he recognized every team during their respective seasons.
Students weren’t the only ones that felt Robinson’s influence and leadership. All staff were held in high regard and were trusted to take the lead on their every day decisions. Instead of taking on all issues himself, Robinson recognized the specific strengths of his staff and effectively delegated some authority to them in order to achieve high levels of efficiency. He also trusted that teachers were able to run their classes and programs without being constantly observed and micromanaged. This system was able to empower Bowie staff and allow for all systems to run smoothly.
Along with trust and respect, Robinson made sure to always show his staff that they are appreciated by doing fun things for them. For example, once a year, during lunches, he set up a grill and cooked burgers for all staff members that wanted one. This lighthearted tradition showed staff that all their hard work is being recognized while also putting a smile on everyone’s face.
Even the parents of Bowie students felt Robinson’s impact. Before he arrived at Bowie, many parents felt out of the loop on what was going on at their kids’ school. Robinson faced this issue head on and created the Bowie Star Newsletter. Through the Bowie Star, he connected with parents directly and made sure to address all possible questions that they had. The newsletter includes information like upcoming school events, AP Exam and course information, student parking, attendance policies, and so much more. Thanks to Robinson’s efforts, parents were able to feel more involved and well informed.
After showing up day after day, year after year, Robinson can now walk away knowing he’s leaving a legacy that will continue to impact Bowie for many years to come. His efforts have forever shaped the Bulldog community, and we thank him for it.
