For more information, please contact Brandon Steinert at steinertb@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9395.
November 21, 2017
Story by Brandon Steinert
Courtesy Photo
Academics Month 2017
This story is the third of four in a series focused on some of Barton’s popular traditional academic offerings. The series was inspired by the inaugural Barton Academics Month through November. A new story will be released each week.
Casey Robinson has accomplished quite a bit in his career in education spanning about two decades. He has coached football, basketball, track and golf. He’s taught classes, served as principal for a handful of schools and worked his way up to superintendent. His roles have taken him around the country, from Kansas to Alaska and his current state, Wyoming, where he is the Assistant Middle School Principal at Fremont County School District #25.
His decorated career started with an associate degree from Barton.
“Barton prepared me with prerequisites very well,” he said. “I earned my degree and went on to Kansas State University, where I was very successful. I was well-prepared for the higher-level classes.”
He said class sizes and personal attention from instructors were among the key factors that led him to choose Barton.
“Going on to a big four-year school, you kind of become just a number,” he said. “I think you have a name at Barton.”
Robinson didn’t always know education was his destiny. His degree at Barton was built to be flexible when he moved on to a four-year school so he could go in any direction.
For those who are certain they want to pursue a career in education, Barton has a new partnership with Fort Hays State University that allows students to complete a bachelor’s degree in education in only three years, which the institutions have aptly named “Degree in Three.” This proactive move is intended to help fill the need for teachers in Kansas.
Even though his associates from Barton wasn’t geared specifically toward transferring into an education program like what is available now, he said he was comfortable with uncertainty, and that everything worked out perfectly.
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to attend Barton and I appreciate the efforts of the people who made my experience there so successful,” he said. “It got me off to a great start.”
After finishing at Barton and KSU, Robinson earned his Master of Science in Educational Administration from Fort Hays State University.
Robinson said he also has no regrets about his chosen career.
“Both of my parents were in education, so that was a driving force,” he said. “Looking back, I couldn’t think of a better career. I get to work with kids and prepare them for the next level in their lives. A major benefit of being in education is seeing people grow and watching them take that next step and apply the skills they learned from you. You can have an impact on a student to make them a better person. I wouldn’t do anything different.”