By Mike Dattilo – Staff Reporter 

Mr. Robinson’s class looks a lot like any other modern technology education classroom. It has computers, robots, and a three dimensional printer.

But soon the class will be missing one thing.

Mr. Robinson.  

After 16 years as a teacher, coach, mentor, and Law graduate Mr. Robinson is leaving to become the Technology Education Teacher and Department Head at Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. His last day at Law is Wednesday, March 8.

“Becoming the Department Head was a big attracter,” Mr. Robinson said.

During Robinson’s tenure in the Tech-Ed department there has been many changes.  

“I couldn’t have helped made the tech-ed department better without the help of Mr. Barcello, Ms. Corriveau, Mrs. McCoy, Ms. Ryan, Ms. Martinich, Ms. Juhase, Mr. Beler, and Ms. Sipos, “ Robinson said. “They’ve all bought in into what we wanted to do, I was fortunate for all of us to have the same vision.”

He is looking forward to his new job to lead new people.

“I don’t feel like there’s any more I can do to lead (the department at Law), because they’re great,” Robinson said. “Fairfield is behind us in the Tech-Ed and Family Consumer Science Departments, there’s a lot of work that could be done.”

Beginning in January of 2001, Robinson began teaching at Law right out of college, and was named Law’s head football coach later that year. Before becoming a head coach, Robinson was an assistant coach at two schools in Kentucky.

“It was always a dream of mine once I began coaching, to come back to [Law] and coach,” Robinson said. “It was tough and hard, it was a big eye opener to me especially being a former player from here.”

In his first season the team went 5-4-1, Law’s first winning season since 1992.

“We had great football players the first year, we’ve always had great kids,” Robinson said.  

In 2007, the team went 9-1 tying the school wins record. Thirteen years later, Robinson retired as head coach.

“In 2014 I retired, I didn’t resign,” Robinson said. “There’s a big difference, you resign when you did something wrong, I retired because it was time to spend time with my kids. I will not coach football ever again.”

In addition to football, Robinson also coached track as an assistant for 10 years and is in his fourth season coaching girls basketball as an assistant.

“I absolutely love coaching girls basketball,” Robinson said. “It’s a good way to give back to the school.”

Robinson still plans to coach girls basketball next season.

“He’s definitely impacted my life a lot through coaching and teaching,” senior Keala Hoff said. “He will always have a place in my heart, and will truly be missed.”

During Robinson’s 16 years at Law, enrollment has gone up in Tech-Ed. Also more Advanced Placement students have taken Tech-Ed classes compared to when Robinson began teaching in January 2001.

“Ryan Siddall (a Law Class of 2015 graduate) never took a Tech-Ed class until his senior year,” Robinson said. “He took a Computer Animated Drawing Class, and now he’s interning with NASA this coming summer.”

Robinson hopes his impact on the Tech-Ed department will be felt long after he leaves.

“Everyone needs to try at least one of our classes, because they’re going to realize they can apply it to what they’re learning in math, science, English, and history, and apply it in a real world situation and they’ll find a love for it,” Robinson said.

Not only has Robinson’s teaching has been praised, but also his character.

“I like what Mr. Robinson stands for,” English teacher Mr. Nigretti said.  “What I learned from him as far as coaching is he always cares about the well-being of the student, before the athlete, that plays an integral role in my teaching and coaching.”

Before becoming a teacher, Robinson was also almost drafted into the NFL.

“After college, Mr. Robinson almost made it on the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots,” business teacher Mr. Beler said. “There’s not a man who embodies Jonathan Law more than him. When parents send their kids to us, there’s not a better role model who always puts the kids first.”

Robinson is also a vital part to the school’s auto shop.

“Mr. Robinson’s commitment to our school and our community is both amazing and remarkable,” Principal Mr. Thompson said. “Above all, his dedication to EVERY student he worked with, whether in the classroom, in the shop, on the field, on the court, or in the community created a standard that all of us strive for every day.”

Robinson said that there is a need for Technology Education teachers across the state.

“Mr. Robinson’s departure leaves big shoes to fill here at Law,” Technology Education teacher Mr. Barcello said. “He is involved in many things here at Law, not just teaching Tech-Ed classes, so to find someone to do what he does for this school will be very,  very difficult.”

Robinson’s departure also means that he and his sister, Law special education teacher Mrs. Andrews, will no longer work together professionally.

“We’ve shared many students over the past two years,” Andrews said. “It was nice to work together to meet individual students needs and be able to use the family connection to have the students feel more comfortable to work with us.”

Like many teachers, Robinson has spent many late nights at Law trying to benefit the students.

“I’m leaving; I’m not dying,” Robinson said. “Jonathan Law will always be a part of me forever. When you do things with kids in mind you’re always going to make adults upset until they see the product of why you’re doing what you’re doing. They don’t understand why you’re doing it, as long as the students appreciate what you’re doing it does not matter what an adult is saying,” Robinson said.