COMM U N I T Y
BY: BILL MOAKLEY
Overcoming Together
Dr. Robert Romines named 2020 State Superintendent of the Year
For Romines, a Moore native and a product of its public schools, the day left an indelible mark. It would be the first of at least two major tragedies to hit his district during his now seven years as its top educator. He would become, not by choice, well versed at handling tragedy. “Unfortunately, we’re experts at handling tragic situations,” Romines solemnly recalled recently. “We’ve been through a lot. Going back to the community, no matter what circum10 | July 2020
stances we’ve been through, we couldn’t do that on our own. We have a very strong community and we know how to face challenges as a school district and a community. If anything, we’ve learned how to rely on one another.”
Romines has been the steady figure through the many great moments the district has experienced as well and earlier this month he was recognized for his work when he was named Oklahoma Association of School Administrators District 7 Superintendent of the Year, then the OASA 2020 State Superintendent of the Year.
He will be recognized at the National School Superintendents Association (AASA) conference next February, and the OASA award makes him eligible to be selected as national superintendent of the year.
Photo Photosby: by:Mark MarkDoescher Doescher
A
week into his tenure as superintendent of Moore Public Schools, Robert Romines would face the unthinkable. An EF5 tornado would tear a 17-mile path across central Oklahoma on May 3, 2013, hitting Moore’s Plaza Towers Elementary School and claiming the young lives of seven children.
