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Milken Family Foundation honors Salvationist Bonnie Robb.
Bonnie Robb, a first-grade teacher at Clark K-8@Binnsmead School, received the prestigious Milken Family National Foundation Educator Award. Foundation representative Jane Foley presented the award at an all-school assembly. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo and School Superintendent Carole Smith attended, as well as school board members and local print and television reporters.
Robb acknowledged her fellow Clark K-8@Binnsmead teachers and Principal Christine Aanderud. She then asked her current and former students to stand so she could recognize them. “Without question, Bonnie is a master teacher,” said Aanderud. “She is motivated by her love of children and her need to seek ways to monitor and adjust instruction to more effectively meet the needs of her students. She sets high standards for all students and provides what is needed to make it happen.”
Lowell Milken established the Milken Educator Awards in 1985 to recognize, retain and attract the highest caliber teachers in the profession. The foundation praised Robb for using innovative techniques to help her students build reading skills. More than 40 percent of her first-graders learn English as a second language—but 80 percent or more meet or exceed benchmarks in reading, writing and math.
Involved in The Salvation Army since her youth, Robb came to the Army in Kenai, Alaska, through a youth rally where she joined the Sunbeam program. Her entire family soon began attending the Kenai Corps.
When the family relocated to Portland, they began attending the Moore Street corps where Bonnie became a junior soldier and a Commissioner’s Sunbeam. As a Girl Guard, she earned the highest honor possible—the Catherine Booth Award. She also graduated as an honor Corps Cadet. As a teenager, Bonnie volunteered at the corps’ summer day camps for several years. During that time she decided teaching would be her career. Robb was educated in Portland public schools, graduating from Roosevelt High School. Subsequently, she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Portland.
Robb co-authored “Make It Visual in the Classroom,” with University of Portland education professor Ellyn Arwood
Today Robb is an active soldier at the Portland Tabernacle Corps. She is a band member, and she and her husband Mark lead a worship team. She has been involved in corps and divisional youth musicals and has taught at the Cascade Division music camp. Recently, she led worship at the Cascade Division’s women’s retreat.
“Bonnie is full of enthusiasm,” says Corps Officer Major Nancy Dihle. “She is passionate at what she puts her hand to do and excels at it as well.”
Since 2002, she has arranged for the students at her school to hear live Christmas music by an Army brass group—a real treat for the low-income students who are rarely exposed to live arts.
“Bonnie is excited about kids and finding the best way to teach each individual child,” said Debra Tomlin of the Cascade development department and a family friend. “I believe much of her love for music and kids comes from her rich background in The Salvation Army.”Bonnie Robb, a first-grade teacher at Clark K-8@Binnsmead School, received the prestigious Milken Family National Foundation Educator Award. Foundation representative Jane Foley presented the award at an all-school assembly. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo and School Superintendent Carole Smith attended, as well as school board members and local print and television reporters.
Robb acknowledged her fellow Clark K-8@Binnsmead teachers and Principal Christine Aanderud. She then asked her current and former students to stand so she could recognize them. “Without question, Bonnie is a master teacher,” said Aanderud. “She is motivated by her love of children and her need to seek ways to monitor and adjust instruction to more effectively meet the needs of her students. She sets high standards for all students and provides what is needed to make it happen.”
Lowell Milken established the Milken Educator Awards in 1985 to recognize, retain and attract the highest caliber teachers in the profession. The foundation praised Robb for using innovative techniques to help her students build reading skills. More than 40 percent of her first-graders learn English as a second language—but 80 percent or more meet or exceed benchmarks in reading, writing and math.
Involved in The Salvation Army since her youth, Robb came to the Army in Kenai, Alaska, through a youth rally where she joined the Sunbeam program. Her entire family soon began attending the Kenai Corps.
When the family relocated to Portland, they began attending the Moore Street corps where Bonnie became a junior soldier and a Commissioner’s Sunbeam. As a Girl Guard, she earned the highest honor possible—the Catherine Booth Award. She also graduated as an honor Corps Cadet. As a teenager, Bonnie volunteered at the corps’ summer day camps for several years. During that time she decided teaching would be her career. Robb was educated in Portland public schools, graduating from Roosevelt High School. Subsequently, she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Portland.
Robb co-authored “Make It Visual in the Classroom,” with University of Portland education professor Ellyn Arwood
Today Robb is an active soldier at the Portland Tabernacle Corps. She is a band member, and she and her husband Mark lead a worship team. She has been involved in corps and divisional youth musicals and has taught at the Cascade Division music camp. Recently, she led worship at the Cascade Division’s women’s retreat.
“Bonnie is full of enthusiasm,” says Corps Officer Major Nancy Dihle. “She is passionate at what she puts her hand to do and excels at it as well.”
Since 2002, she has arranged for the students at her school to hear live Christmas music by an Army brass group—a real treat for the low-income students who are rarely exposed to live arts.
“Bonnie is excited about kids and finding the best way to teach each individual child,” said Debra Tomlin of the Cascade development department and a family friend. “I believe much of her love for music and kids comes from her rich background in The Salvation Army.”
