Lacey Robinson Leads Utah Virtual Academy Elementary School

Lacey Robinson is entering her seventh year as principal of the elementary school at Utah Virtual Academy, and she reached that office by doing nearly every other job in the school first. She arrived 14 years ago as a part-time mentor at the UTVA high school.

“I was initially hired as a part-time mentor, but I quickly found my passion for online education, and that part-time job led to full-time employment, and here I am today, leading as the principal. It gives me a unique insight in my position.”

Lacey Robinson, UTVA Elementary Principal

Along the way she built a student leadership program at the high school, taught fifth and third grade, worked as a math interventionist with small groups, served as a lead teacher, and stepped into administration as vice principal. She has worked in all three UTVA schools, elementary, middle, and high.

Robinson grew up in southern Utah. She was born in Cedar City, raised mostly in St. George, and graduated from Dixie High School, where her husband graduated as well. He is a pharmacist, and they met in college, where he tutored her in math. They have six children. Their oldest is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bogota, Colombia, and their 18-year-old daughter leaves in October to serve in Taiwan. All five daughters speak Mandarin after years in dual immersion.

The students are the reason she stayed. Robinson grew dedicated to them early in her time at UTVA, and 14 years later she still talks about the work the same way.

“This is not just a job. This is a calling, and it is an opportunity.”

Lacey Robinson

Some students enroll to move ahead faster than a traditional schedule allows. Some enroll to catch up. Some come after a difficult stretch and need a steady place to find their footing again. Robinson describes all of them the same way.

“These are capable kids who want to go to school and need a different option. Thank goodness we have options that meet the needs of all students.”

Lacey Robinson

She says the same to her teachers, often.

“I tell my teachers all the time, you will never work with a group of kids in any other job who need you the way these students need you. It is extremely rewarding.”

Lacey Robinson

Robinson speaks about her staff with obvious pride. Her elementary team runs about 51 people, and hiring statewide rather than inside district boundaries gives her a reach most principals do not have. Two new teachers came straight out of college this year, along with three special education teachers. A few of her teachers use their Utah education license to teach at UTVA while living out of state. Teachers who join tend to stay.

“People sometimes mistake us as a homeschool program. I would put our school up against any school in the state for the talent and expertise we have.”

Lacey Robinson

Utah Virtual Academy is a state-funded public charter school. Its teachers hold Utah licenses, the school follows Utah education standards, and students attend live class every day. Robinson's own week reflects that. She supervises staff, manages a budget, oversees professional learning, and works with students and families, the same responsibilities her neighborhood principal carries. She guards one part above the rest.

“The most important role that I play is instructional leader. I'm observing classrooms as often as I can and I'm giving teachers feedback. I go through all the same professional learning that they do. I understand the curriculum. I can't be an instructional leader without that knowledge.”

Lacey Robinson

Her students know her, too. She runs a junior ambassador leadership program and hosts a student of the month lunch, where teachers nominate students. A former student spotted her at Chick-fil-A recently and called out, "Principal Robinson, it is so good to see you."

The elementary program has posted year over year gains in reading and writing, and Robinson's focus now is sustaining the model that produced them.

“I'd like to be the best program out there. I'd like to be a model for other virtual schools. We have the staff, we have the leadership, we have the board, we have everything we need to be that successful.”

Lacey Robinson

Her students log on every morning from towns across Utah.

“These are bright, capable kids showing up every day and holding themselves to a high standard. They are getting a great education, and I am proud of them.”

Lacey Robinson

To learn more about the UTVA elementary school, visit utahvirtualacademy.org or contact LuAnn Charles, Student Services Administrator, at (801) 688-2104 or lucharles@utahvirtual.org.