MACON, Ga. — After serving 24 years in the United States Air Force, Mark Robinson wanted to give back to his community by teaching students culinary skills they can use to kick off a career.
Now, the county is giving back to him, by awarding him the 2020 Teacher of the Year award.
The award, Robinson said, was a total surprise to him.
"Shocked, just shocked, so very proud and honored, such an honor for them to do this," he said.
The win from the weekend took some time to marinate.
"It hit me last night when I was going to bed I was like wow, 'I'm teacher of the year,' because people were calling me left and right congratulating me and I didn’t realize how big of an impact it is," Robinson said.
The award comes thanks to the big impact he leaves on his students.
"I try to teach them the professionalism I was taught in the military, and like I said, I had over twenty kids last year getting jobs. That’s big because a lot of these kids, they need it," Robinson said.
Every year students learn how to cook, serve, and manage fine dining, now under a chef with a five-star rated award.
Robinson will now go on to represent Bibb County for the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
He says he is excited to get the school year started and open up the Compass Rose Cafe.
The Compass Rose Cafe is open to the public where students cook and serve a four-course meal for only $10!
