LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Michael Robbins

Position: Superintendent
School: Bristol Bay Borough School District
School District: Bristol Bay Borough School District
City, State: Naknek, AK

Support Michael Leave a comment Get Updates

Michael Robbins was nominated by a colleague, Alonso Escalante.

Mr. Robbins believes students are at the center of everything he and his staff do, regardless of their position in the school district. He makes this very clear from the moment he interviews to when he opens his meetings and lays out his norms, and through his daily actions.

"I have known and worked with Mr. Robbins for the last 3 1/2 years. Three of those years were in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, and now, they're here in the Bristol Bay Borough School District. What I have experienced is that he is consistent in his focus on being student-centered and student-driven. He is also able to maintain this student-centered drive while unifying staff and creating a work environment that encourages people to grow and thrive. I often refer to him as our own Simon Sinek. I have seen him walk into two districts where staff were divided and afraid to speak up. Within a few months, he creates a work environment where employees go from looking for other jobs to being excited to show up for work. He is also a servant leader," said Escalante.

When he is presented with a challenge or identifies one, he is the first to take steps to solve the problem, so guaranteed action steps are already in place when the issue is presented to staff. An excellent example of this occurred in Ketchikan, where he dove into the district's data and realized that the graduation rate had historically been around 80%. He formed an 'Off Track to Graduate' committee with numerous stakeholders. He showed up to the first meeting with a list of every student who was off track to graduate, how many credits they were deficient in, and which classes they were lacking. He led the committee in identifying concrete action steps for each student. The committee met weekly because, in his words, "If we're not here to help students graduate, then what are we here to do?"

In recent years, the graduation rate was the highest it had ever been at both the Ketchikan High School and the alternative high school, Revilla. The ripple effects of focusing on instruction and inclusion were student achievement. Along with the highest graduation rates in KGBSD history came the highest Native Alaskan graduation rate ever recorded, a 50% reduction in students on the off-track-to-graduate list, and an increase in the number of students in college-level coursework.

In Mr. Robbins's short time in Bristol Bay, the climate and culture have already improved dramatically. In a recent survey, over 90% of students reported feeling connected and supported by an adult at school. Staff also report that they are becoming unified and that the workplace has become a place they want to come to work.

Mr. Robbins is also an advocate for historically underrepresented students and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. In Ketchikan, a school used Tribal Values as an example of how to make good choices. An individual filed a lawsuit stating that the district was promoting a religion. Mr. Robbins chose to move forward in defending Tribal Values, and it became a landmark decision in Native Alaskan educational law. A loss would have prohibited the statewide instruction of Tribal values and required the removal of all Tribal values curriculum from Alaska schools. The successful defense preserved culturally responsive education across the state.

Mr. Robbins works tirelessly to build and sustain relationships with the tribes. He serves on numerous boards, including the University of Alaska Southeast Advisory Board, the Southeast Regional Career and Technical Center (SERCC), and the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Board (BBRCTE). He was recently elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Alaska Superintendents Association. He was appointed by the Governor to another three-year term and unanimously approved by the Alaska Legislature as a Professional Teaching Practices Commissioner, where he continues his student-first focus.

"Each week, he asks his leadership team to share the one thing they are most proud of from that week. The week before last, Mr. Robbins shared a letter a student handed him, in which the student said he was glad Mr. Robbins had come to Bristol Bay because he made everyone happy. He is our 'One Thing,'" said Escalante.

26 25 21 21 42

Comments (2)

Robbie MacManus Posted 21 days ago

I first met Michael Robbins in July of 2025 when he came on board with Bristol Bay Borough School District as Superintendent. Right out of the shoot, very welcoming, team oriented, meeting with everyone, starting the "team meetings". I work with the Business office as an outside contractor, Mr. Robbins is very involved, but not overwhelming, he wants everyone to succeed, from the preschoolers to the highschoolers and wants to know how the students are doing that have left for college or other life adventures. He treats his students and staff with respect, always everyone's cheerleader! He is one of the most "POSITIVE" people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Bristol Bay Borough School District is a better place with Mr. Robbins as their Superintendent.

Jeffery Todd White Posted 2 months ago

I have worked with Mr. Robbins for the past 4 years and have witnessed firsthand his strong leadership and unwavering commitment to high-quality learning for students. His energy and enthusiastic demeanor, combined with his knowledge of systems, teachers, students, instructional practices, and interpersonal skills working with others, have positively shifted both the achievement and climate in the schools. Over the years, I have worked with Mr. Robbins in various settings, i.e., in schools with children, the board, the community, the staff, and many committees. His leadership and knowledge of how systems operate have been consistently strong. He leverages his exceptional relationships with students, staff, and families. He not only possesses a deep understanding of data analysis but also has a solid understanding of how to deploy solutions under various circumstances to achieve maximum effectiveness and results. As a leader, I have witnessed his understanding and application of the change process. I have seen him employing exceptional interpersonal skills to convince others of the need to change. When paired with his instructional knowledge, he can craft compelling reasons for making changes based on what is best for students and their learning. This combination is essential for effective leaders and is the way Mr. Robbins operates daily. I have witnessed his interactions with families and their respect for him. He connects with families and community members, showing a depth of understanding and the uniqueness of each child. More than once, I have heard a child’s parent say to him how much they appreciate all he is doing for their child. One of the best compliments that a parent told me about him was, “Yes, my child knows him, but more impressive is that he knows my child!” Community members recognize his ability to make things happen in the district. He has been a conduit for integrating community groups into the school system. The results speak for themselves. In difficult budgetary times, achievement scores are at all-time highs. The graduation rate has soared. Survey data from various groups is overwhelmingly positive. His skill allows him to enter group conversations and successfully navigate them to achieve the desired result. He listens, considers other perspectives, and crafts ideas to achieve the goal. He builds relationships based on mutual respect and the acknowledgment that people have a lot to offer and can accomplish great things when working together. He can shift people’s practice through relationship, knowledge and willingness to be a risk-taker.