Molly Robins is the new Pre-AP English I and II teacher here at Harding Charter Preparatory High School.
She grew up in Norman where she was raised in a teaching environment. Her mother taught English, and her father taught history at a middle school in Moore, where they met.
“They have the best love story,” Robins said.
Robins attended Norman High School where she was a part of the book club and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She then earned her associate’s degree at OCCC and bachelor’s at OU. She is currently working on getting her master’s from OU.
Her love for literature, being a writer and having two parents in education made teaching English seem like the most natural thing to for Robins to pursue. She also loves to bake pumpkin spice loaves and reading.
One of the best pieces of advice she received was “just going into a classroom, being prepared for anything and not trying to fit in all these standard techniques for every single class,” she said.
Robins said she was inspired by a teacher from Norman North High School, Dr. Pam Pittman Adkins, who was not her official mentor teacher, but took her on. The two still meet with each other every other week to catch up.
Robins taught previously at Whittier Middle School in Norman. One of her best teaching experiences came during her internship when she taught “Frankenstein.” The activity was four corners based, and it was so effective that her mentor teacher continues to use it.
“I model a lot of my lesson plans based on that one because it was the first official unit I got to design, and it went well,” she said.
Harding Charter Prep’s mission statement was the pulling factor for Robins.
“I believe in Harding’s mission statement, and I believe that all students should know that they have the potential to go beyond… it’s unique,” she said.
Robins has observed several schools as a requirement for her bachelor’s degree, and she had never seen such a focus and hard drive on understanding and using critical skills as she sees here.
Robins hopes to bring her passion for literature to Harding and help the students reach their full potential. She hopes to get the students to be able to recognize their writing and reading abilities.
