Tabernacle School District will see a new superintendent walking the halls of the schools starting in November as Glenn Robbins Jr. takes over. The Sun spoke with Robbins to give residents the chance to learn a little more about the district’s new leader.
Robbins grew up in Shamong, Tabernacle’s next-door neighbor. He said it was a great small town with lots of his family members and friends nearby, which he loved and considers very similar to Tabernacle. Through making friends at high school, playing soccer and working with his dad on water wells, he got to know the Tabernacle area quite well, and it has been amazing to be back, he said.
“It’s been a blessing to come back to where it began and give back. Not many people have the opportunity to come back home and make a difference,” Robbins said. “I have been over at Tabernacle a lot, going to board meetings and back to school nights. It has been amazing to see old friends and family members.”
Though Robbins said his passion was soccer in high school (he won a state championship), his passion for education grew not long after. Volunteering at a number of soccer camps with Shawnee High School and eventually Seneca High School as a camp counselor, he learned he really liked teaching. He also mentioned his teachers, vice principal neighbor and athletic directors helped to really steer him on his future career path.
“Education started to find me (rather than me finding it)… I wanted to work with children and make lives better,” Robbins said.
Robbins has been working in education since 2003, graduating from Rider University with a bachelor’s of arts degree in secondary education and social studies and Jones International University with a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration. Robbins comes to Tabernacle from Northfield Community Middle School where he served as principal since 2012.
As principal, Robbins earned a number of awards. He was a top five finalist for Principal of the Year and was recognized as the 2016 National Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
He is a winner of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Contest.
Robbins was also selected for both the China School Study Tour through the Confucius Institute of Rutgers University along with nine other New Jersey school administrators and selected for the Silicon Valley Enhancement Study Tour through the University of Pennsylvania. Robbins is working to further his education with a doctorate in educational leadership.
Robbins hopes to bring a number of things to the schools. He wants to build a climate and culture of creativity and innovative thinking; create an environment focusing on Tabernacle and growing together; bring innovative ideas to “studios,” what Robbins calls classrooms; and become a visible presence throughout the schools.
However, he wants to make changes in time, and with all stakeholders involved, to build on what it already has done.
“I know the people of Tabernacle are tremendous people,” Robbins said. “It is my goal to help move them forward and as Dr. John Sherry, says, ‘continuing the Tabernacle way.’”
Robbins resides in Green Bank with his wife Abigail, 4-year-old son Henry and English bulldog Salem. He said the plan is to move his family within the area.
In his free time, Robbins loves to spend time with his family the most.
However, he does like other ventures such as fishing, reading and watching sports. Robbins is a huge Eagles fan, also supporting the Flyers, Phillies and Red Sox, and any soccer team.
Robbins said he frequents social media sites, constantly communicating with educational peers from around the world about education. Books he has been reading recently have also had a focus on innovation and creativity, with education in mind.
“I’m always working to make schools better,” Robbins said.
