Vocal music teacher Mike Robb speaks after being awarded the 2024 Scottish Rite Distinguished Educator of the Year on Friday at Irving Middle School.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Irving Middle School choir director Mike Robb and the Irving eighth grade chorus sing a traditional South African folk song, Asika Thali, for the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Lied Center in 2014. Robb, who has taught vocal music at Irving for 23 years, was named the Scottish Rite Distinguished Educator of the Year on Friday.
Teaching middle school music was, and still is, Mike Robb's calling.
He found the place he feels he belongs the most inside a classroom, where he’s been able to share his deep passion for music with students every day.
And he’s loved every second of it.
"Music is something that has meant so much to me, so much to my family, and to be able to share that gift every day with students is an honor," he said. "It's definitely a passion of mine. It's part of who I am and I love doing it every day."
But when his name was called out on Friday afternoon as the 2024 recipient of the Scottish Rite Distinguished Educator of the Year Award, one of the district's most prestigious honors, he was shocked, to say the least.
What he — and the rest of Irving Middle School — thought was a regular all-school assembly, turned out to be a shining moment just for him.
Students and teachers filed into the auditorium expecting to talk about how to finish the remainder of the school year strong. Instead, they saw a line of district officials on the stage, which is when things began to seem fishy to Robb. He knew something bigger was about to happen, he just didn’t expect it to be about him.
Then his name was announced and he was suddenly being shepherded to the stage as a deafening roar of applause erupted from the hundreds of students around him.
In that moment, tears sprung to his eyes. He was nervous, excited and blown away.
“It just means so much to me,†he said. “There's so many teachers that are deserving of this award, and to be one of the ones that have received it is a huge honor. I'm very grateful and thankful.â€
Robb fell in love with teaching as a college student at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he worked alongside several teachers who inspired him to take his love of music and connect with students as an educator.
“Now I can't imagine doing anything else,†he said.
Robb has since spent 23 years at Irving, working countless late nights and early mornings to be an amazing teacher for his students. He’s helped lead musicals, develop instrumental music classes and teach students all he possibly can about music.
He has always poured his heart into his work, which is exactly why his wife, Katie Robb, wasn’t surprised to learn he had been chosen for the esteemed award, which is presented to one distinguished teacher in the district every year along with a $10,000 check.
She had been keeping the secret all week — hiding her face anytime he mentioned Friday’s assembly — and she was more than excited to share the moment with him.
“He has a gift, and I'm grateful he uses it to back students,†she said, with tears in her eyes. “I think there are kids that don't look forward to coming to school. There's got to be one thing that motivates them, and I think he does a great job of connecting with kids and making them feel like a part of something.â€
Vocal music teacher Mike Robb claps while being recognized as the 2024 Scottish Rite Distinguished Educator of the Year on Friday at Irving Middle School.
Irving Middle School choir director Mike Robb and the Irving eighth grade chorus sing a traditional South African folk song, Asika Thali, for the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Lied Center in 2014. Robb, who has taught vocal music at Irving for 23 years, was named the Scottish Rite Distinguished Educator of the Year on Friday.