The Kentucky Board of Education has presented the 2025 Robinson Award for Diversity and Equity in Public Education to a Hopkins County principal.
Officials announced that Michael Griffin, principal at Browning Springs Middle School, won the award at the Kentucky Board of Education’s meeting on Thursday. Each year, the Kentucky Board of Education gives out the Robinson Award to a Kentuckian or a Kentucky organization that has shown exceptional efforts and contributions in promoting educational diversity and equity. The criteria for receiving this award include, but it is not limited to:
- Successful efforts in closing socioeconomic and/or racial achievement gaps; and
- Significantly improving student learning, student achievement, or other measured outcomes among students of color or economically disadvantaged students.
In a written statement, Griffin said his nine years at Browning Springs have been rewarding, and he’s grateful for the exceptional support of his staff. He stated that their dedication has been instrumental in achieving this recognition. He also said he collaborates closely with the school’s youth service center coordinator, the district director of community schools, and the rest of his administrative team to identify and address any barriers their students and community may face. He expressed his appreciation of the commitment shown by his staff to prioritize the diverse needs of their students. He stressed that at Browning Springs, they treat everyone as family.
Officials from the Kentucky Board of Education said one of his nominators, Hopkins County Director of Community Schools Wendy Gamblin stated that Griffin has a mission to create an environment where all students and families feel supported. She said he collaborates closely with the youth service center coordinator to identify and address student’s needs, providing targeted interventions through the schools’ multi-tiered system of support. By analyzing data on at-risk students, Gamblin added that Griffin ensures that appropriate academic and behavioral interventions are in place to support success.
Another nominator, according to officials, was Zachary Evans, the family resources and youth services center coordinator at the middle school, who said Griffin “is the true definition of a leader who lives out the values of equity and inclusion.
The Robinson Award is named for Samuel Robinson, a member of the Kentucky Board of Education from 1991-2004 who made diversity and equity in public education his life’s work.
