“I started in the classroom as a ‘talented and gifted’ teacher. Later on, I crossed over into administration. I’ve worked here in Waterloo, then in Des Moines and now back here again – so I’ve had my share of experiences with the school system in Iowa.”

“As a classroom teacher, I worked in what we call ‘high opportunity buildings’ – those are often the ones most would call at-risk or low-performing, but we never wanted the connotation of those adjectives to sound like there’s something wrong with our students.”

“So, I was a ‘talented and gifted’ teacher for elementary and middle school students, then I moved to a larger high school, then I finally found myself at Des Moines public high school with over 2,300 students.”

“We had an amazing leader there, so we made it work. But it really occurred to me that it was almost like a factory system of education – just moving kids on.”

“There existed a wide gap in outcomes and opportunities alike. You’d have kids who just wouldn’t be able to make it and weren’t getting the help they needed. And then on the other end of the spectrum, you would have kids from very affluent families with many more opportunities outside of school.”

“After I got married and pregnant, we moved back home and my plan was to be a stay at home mom. But then these amazing young ladies [Chassidi and Kendall] approached me with their idea for Royal Legacy Christian Academy.”

“I’ve always been a believer, but have always had to separate my faith from my profession, particularly in public schools. Teaching has always been my passion, but to integrate that in with my faith was what drew me to this place and the work we do here. It’s a mission I really believe in.”

“It’s all about choice. As a parent, why should I not get to choose where to educate my children? I’m a product of public schools, I think there are amazing things going on in classrooms everywhere. But as a parent, I also know it’s not one-size-fits-all.”

“I don’t have a choice whether I pay taxes. I should be able to decide what type of educational setting is best for my children.”

“I’ve had my hand in a little bit of everything and worked in many different schools in terms of demographics and access. Every family deserves the ability to afford an education they believe fits their children best. Families deserve the chance to make that choice.”

Dr. Amber Robinson
Principal
Royal Legacy Christian Academy