Helping Students See Stars: Sarah Robinson ’16, G’20

Utica Community
Utica Stories
Helping Students See Stars: Sarah Robinson ’16, G’20

Sara Robinson, a young woman with shoulder-length blond hair, smiles at the camera in front of a beige wall.

"I want my students to be curious about the world around them, try to expand their knowledge and ask ‘why?’”

Sarah Robinson ’16, G’20 is doing what she loves.

Robinson graduated from Utica University in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in geoscience and initial certification in adolescent education. She began teaching at Mount Markham Central School District while finishing graduate school, earning a master’s in leadership and instruction for inclusive classrooms.

Now, she gets to put it all into practice.

Robinson currently teaches earth science, living environment, and astronomy — a course that she created. The astronomy elective has developed into a student-centered, project-based course that is tailored to the various interests of students each year.

“There's nothing quite like that ‘lightbulb’ moment when students grasp a concept they've been struggling with. I want my students to be curious about the world around them, try to expand their knowledge and ask ‘why?’” says Robinson.

To that end, in 2021, Robinson applied and won a grant from the New York State Association for Computers and Technology in Education (NYSCATE). The funds will provide a new telescope to give astronomy students an up-close look at the solar system and provide the community with a powerful, educational resource.

“With this telescope, students will be able to observe the solar and lunar surfaces, in addition to stars and planets. Students will be engaged in various projects throughout the course of a school year to track changes in the surfaces as well as to study the planets,” says Robinson. “We plan to create a class website showcasing images taken of their targets, as well as an outreach program in which the students take hold observation days/nights for the school community.”

By Joshua Ward ’24