Utah PTA Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award recipient Lance Robins with the 2021-2022 Heritage Elementary School PTA Executive Board.
NIBLEY—The halls of the school filled with cheers and laughter as the intercom above announced the news that Heritage Elementary School Principal Lance Robins was named as the 2022 Utah PTA Outstanding School Administrator.
“He never could have been better,” HES fourth grade student Nick Welker said. “He’s the best principal I could imagine to have.”
The award recognizes the administrators that have an incredible impact on the students they work with on an elementary or secondary level.
PTA Treasurer Kendal Welker says Robins HES PTA nominated Robins because he is personable and strives to build a relationship with the students.
“As I have worked with him over the years, his biggest thing is having a relationship with the kids,” Welker said. “When kids have a relationship with a teacher or, you know an adult, then they’re more likely to succeed and do well.”
To nominate Robins, an application and essay were submitted to the Utah PTA to read about the positive impact Robins has had on the students at HES.
The students at HES say Robins is someone they can count on.
“He’s epic,” HES sixth grade student Tyson Bragg said. “He’s the type of person who really does keep you up when you’re feeling down.”
HES sixth grade student Caleb Holmes and fourth grade student Annie Holmes both agree that he is nice.
“He’s…caring and he is kind hearted,” Annie said.
Caleb said Robins is someone he trusts and goes to when he faces bullying in school.
“He’s very nice,” Caleb said. “When people are bullying in school, he helps me.”
Robins said receiving the award was very humbling and said he was happy to hear the students trust him and consider him someone they can count on.
“That’s how it should be,” Robins said. “Kids should be able to count on somebody and they should be able to count on their parents and grandparents. If I’m part of that, then I’m very fortunate. This is what it’s about being a teacher.”
Welker said Robins has been a positive addition to the school and says he needs to stay to continue to impact the students and teachers.
“He’s just amazing for the school,” Welker said. “He advocates for our children. He advocates for the teachers, too.”
Robins said he was surprised by the award and credits the PTA, students and parents for making it possible for him to receive the award.
“These are the best kids, best parents, best community,” Robins said. “I’m lucky. The best kids in the world.”