I am APS is a special series highlighting students, faculty, alumni, and others in celebration of the rich and diverse experiences, backgrounds and contributions within the Atlanta Public Schools family. Together, we stand in solidarity of our shared admiration of APS and the mission which guides us.
Dr. Norman “Storm” Robinson III once sat in the auditorium of Benjamin E. Mays High School and was inspired when the school’s namesake visited and spoke to the school. Years later, he stood on the same stage where Dr. Mays stood to give back to his alma mater.
As the associate director for school and community engagement for Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Innovating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC), Storm returned to Mays High School to celebrate the debut of its new Google Tech Hub.
The partnership between Atlanta Public Schools (APS), Georgia Tech’s CEISMC, and Google brings a new level of engagement to learning for Mays students, and Storm was on the team that helped develop the curriculum for the tech hub.
“A lot of times, students don’t have access to these types of experiences around math, science and physics,” he said. “But now they feel honored that we’re sharing this with them because it bolsters them up.”
As a proud product of APS, Dr. Robinson shared how important his experience at Mays High School was to set him on his path.
Q: What was a memorable moment from your time at Benjamin E. Mays High School?
A: My fondest memories were of sitting at the foot of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays when he came to the school to visit and speak and that just made a marked impact on my life. It set me on the path that I’m on now. Walking the halls, I was around so much Black excellence that I just really felt valued. I felt that I was being heard, and my educational experience was tailored for me and my strengths.
Q: How does it feel to bring a program like the Google Tech Hub to your alma mater?
A: It’s indescribable. This morning, we were giving the official kickoff program on the stage where I sat at the foot of Dr. Mays. It just fills me with so much pride. I’m not originally from Atlanta, but I feel like I am from Atlanta. I’m one of those people that moved here from up North to get to a warmer climate, but being here in this building and the experiences and things that I have, the people that we were introduced to and exposed to have drastically, greatly impacted my life.
Q: What advice do you have for current APS students?
A: Be very diligent about your own education. Be an advocate for your own education. If you feel that there is something that needs to be added to it, be an advocate for yourself and ask for that. These teachers and this district are very in tune with the needs of the students. Be able to communicate and be an active participant in your own education. Be open. This is the place to really explore different things and get exposed to different things so that you can pursue different things and really formulate what your success is going to be.