New school will be a bountiful family garden for love, learning, and life

If you asked the “Head Rebel,” Dr. Monique Hazzard-Robinson, what the secret sauce is for holding Groves High School together during this time of flux, she will answer, “we are a family.”

Hazzard-Robinson has been principal of Robert W. Groves High School since 2020. She has navigated the school through the tumultuous storm of the pandemic, and the demolition of their school building.

Ask her about the next ingredient, she will likely tell you, “I want to be the boss that I wish that I had all of the time. We are in this building to support these kids, we are here for the same reason — the kids — we are in this together.”

Those two things combined have sustained the school since 2020 when the old Groves High School building was demolished to make way for the 

new ESPLOST-funded 6-12 Multicampus in Garden City.

As the matriarch of Robert W. Groves High School, also known as The Pride of the Westside, Hazzard-Robinson says, “When I email the faculty, I will say ‘Rebel Family’, because that is what we are. Most of us spend more time with each other than we spend with our own families, so it is important that people feel wanted, loved, and welcomed when they come into our school building.”

For the past four years, that building was the old Mercer Middle School, but no longer. After delays due to COVID, the new expansive school site will be home to Mercer Middle School and Groves High School students. The new facility is close to 400,000 square feet in three stories and has a capacity of 2,400 students.

“We have good days and bad days, every day is not perfect, but we try to make it as close to perfect as we can because I feel that in a world where there are so many things going on, you want to have some environment that you can go into and feel loved and protected — and you feel like ‘hey, I want to be here’ because there are places that you don’t feel that way,” says Hazzard-Robinson. “It takes a village and it takes all of us — it takes everyone in the building to work together.”

One thing that stands out about Dr. Hazzard-Robinson is her dedication to attending school events outside of the building. “I feel that it is super important for the students to see me, other teachers, and other administrators at their games and activities. We want them to be successful inside of the classroom and outside of the classroom, so I try to be a cheerleader in both places. That is me showing them respect, we are asking them to do things in the building in the daytime — we are asking them to go to class and do their very best, and to be respectful of each other, and they are doing what we are asking them to do — so I think that it is only fair that I support them when they are doing stuff outside of the classroom. I can support them inside, I can support them outside — it is important because we are a family and families support each other.”

“I don’t think that I am doing anything that is out of the ordinary,” says Hazzard-Robinson.

Hazzard-Robinson is too humble. Having an administrator who attends every single basketball game while the team is without a gym for four years and having to play all of their games without a home court advantage is not “ordinary.” This year, due to a district function, she missed one game, and in her stead, she sent Omar, her husband of 25 years. The basketball teams, lovingly known as the Road Rebels during this time of transition, have played 95 straight games on the road.

Hazzard-Robinson has the same dedication to all of the other sports and activities at Groves High School. “Most of the time he (Omar) is in tow with me. The kids know him because we are at most of the games together; either we will meet there or I’ll go by after work and scoop him up. The kids enjoy seeing him at their games as well.”

“Not only do we want student athletes, we want good people. They are going out into the world and we pray that we have prepared them, and that we have given them the foundation that they need to be very successful.”

Of the years since the old Groves building was demolished, “It has been a long hard road,” acknowledges Hazard-Robinson. “I have teachers who will give up their classroom so that other teachers and students can work in their room. If I have a teacher that gets ill in the middle of the day, I have another teacher that will step up and say ‘I’ll watch their class, let them come and sit in with my class.’ The teachers step up, and that is so important, that doesn’t happen at every school, but we have awesome people at Groves.”

“Classroom is of course why we are here, that is the number one thing; getting them ready to graduate and go out into the world — if they want to go to college, or enlist in the military, or if they want to be an entrepreneur — we are that foundation for them,” says Hazzard-Robinson.
“However, I think that playing sports, participating in clubs, participating in organizations at school — that helps with getting them to be well rounded citizens because they learn other things in those capacities, they learn to be responsible and leadership skills. We help all of the kids find something that they enjoy, because the school life balance is important. There are so many things that they can do that enhance their experience in high school, I don’t want them to just say ‘I went to school for four years and got nothing out of it’. We try to have different things for our students to participate in that they are interested in. Those things make them well-rounded. We will have more opportunities to give them those experiences in the new building.”

“I just love to see the kids grow and blossom,” concludes Hazzard-Robinson.

With Hazzard-Robinson leading Robert W. Groves High School into the future, the new building will surely be a bountiful family garden for love, learning, and life.

“Flowers” for Dr. Monique Hazzard-Robinson:

Hallii Thomas: senior, class of 2024 — girls basketball student athlete

“Dr. Robinson is great. Having her love and support at every game really pushes us to play better, not just for ourselves and our coaches, but for her as well. After every game, she congratulates us, win or lose, it is really good to have her there. No matter if it is sports or academics, she pushes us to do our best because she knows we can be the best that we can be; so even in the classroom, she tells us that we can do good, so we try our best to do good.”

Sidney Flaggs: senior, class of 2024 — boys basketball student athlete

“It means a lot to have Dr. Robinson at our games. We wouldn’t want to be seen getting in trouble by her because she is at the games and stuff. We appreciate her. She doesn’t act like a principal, she treats us like family; she shows up for us and that means a lot.”

A’Zedia Edwards: junior, class of 2025 — girls basketball student athlete

“I am very grateful to have Dr. Robinson come to our games because she could be in her bed watching a television show and eating popcorn, but instead she comes to our games to cheer us on. She encourages us and after the games, she tells us ‘good job’ and that we did good. I am very grateful for her, she gives us her free time.”

Josiah Manning: junior, class of 2025 — boys basketball student athlete

“For her to be there and support us, it makes us better students as well in the classroom, knowing that she is coming out and showing us love. We have the same love for her when we are inside the classroom. She has cooked for us many times, good homemade meals, healthy meals — to make sure that we are good for the games. If one of us is having an off day, she makes sure that we stay on track and do better.”

Coach Amber Chambers: girls basketball

“It is always a beautiful thing to see the support of your admin at any game because when your principal shows up to the games, when kids see her in the hallway, if they are doing something, as soon as they see Dr. Robinson, I promise you that they will cut it out because she shows up for them in ways that she probably doesn’t even know. Having a boss principal that shows up means a lot to all of us.”

Coach Kevin Evans: boys basketball

“She is like another momma. My mom hasn’t been able to come to my games because she has been in the hospital, so having Dr. Robinson there for support means a lot. Having Doc around me has been good for my mental health, I don’t know where I would be right now without her. As a coach it was one thing, but having someone who wants you to do good in life; she makes me a better man and a better dad. I give a lot of credit to her. Having an admin at a game is one thing, but having her next to me at the hospital and not wanting to leave me, that is a lot.”

Danielle Alexander: English teacher, Tenth Grade Lit and Journalism

“Dr. Robinson has been the right leader at the right time for all of us. She is both very compassionate and very smart — and her sheer grit and determination have carried us through more difficult days than anyone wants to count. Students trust her and flock to her. Teachers and staff lean on her. She’s our rock and our encourager. Her vision for what Groves can be and do informs every minute of our sometimes long days. I can’t imagine going through the past four years, with all their changes, without her at the helm.

Kevin Foard: Dean of Students

“Dr. Robinson has a love for students and staff. She does an amazing job making the job look easy. She wears several hats and does a great job balancing her duties and responsibilities managing the school. She’s flexible, compassionate, approachable, trustworthy, and professional. I could not have asked for a better principal.”

Dominique Walker: Chorus Director and Music Appreciation Teacher

“Dr. Robinson has been so nurturing to me since she and I became colleagues at Groves High School. She is caring, dependable, and very understanding of any situation I’ve dealt with while working with her. She’s like a mother figure to me. I appreciate her and her leadership dearly. She’s inspired me to one day move into a school leadership position.”

Kristina Whalley: Groves nurse

“Dr. Robinson is the true definition of a leader. She leads by example and with poise and grace. She keeps her head held high and sets a strong, positive example for the staff and students alike. She is also a role model for our female students by showing them how to act with class. They say a team is only as strong as their leader and because of how strong our leader is, the Groves Family is a powerhouse!”

Kay Strickland: Gifted Advanced Content Lead

“With Dr. Robinson’s open-door policy and willingness to listen, she makes us feel like our ideas and thoughts really matter. We feel comfortable to speak with her about school business and personal. We are family at Groves.”

Dr. Patricia Jenks-Greene: teacher, Business

“Dr. Rob’s leadership is not about being in charge. Her leadership is about taking care of those in her charge”

Lt. Col. (Retired) David T. London: Senior Army JROTC Instructor

“Dr. Robinson answers every single teacher question, somehow is always available to teachers and students, cares about her team in such a patient way, and ensures standards are followed. She is a fantastic administrator.”

During pre-planning this year, Dr Robinson impressively knew the first and last name of every single faculty and staff member as she introduced them one by one . . . . without a single note card . . . even the new people. She knows her people and she cares about her people.”

Christopher Goodrich: 3rd grade teacher at Southwest Elementary

“Dr. Robinson was my math teacher in 8th grade and 12th grade. She definitely inspired me to become a teacher. She showed such care, compassion, and love for her students. She helped inspire in me a love of learning I still have today.”

Dr. Christian Pantin: principal Mercer Middle School

Dr. Monique Hazzard-Robinson is what I would call a solution looking for a problem. She is very innovative, focused, driven, and she understands the power of servant leadership. She understands that in order to save the people, you have to serve the people; and in order to lead the people, you have to love the people.

Alfred Mcguire: principal Woodville-Tompkins High School

“Dr. Robinson is an amazing leader and always strives to provide the best opportunities for her students. Her drive and enthusiasm for students is infectious and is a reason why her students love her.”

Bernadette Ball-Oliver: Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

“Dr. Hazard-Robinson views every student as she does each of her own children. In doing so, she supports and nurtures their growth athletically as well as academically and artistically.”

This article appears in Connect Savannah I Best of Savannah.