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Portrait of a Graduate MVP: Robin Prodin

By Lisa Carolin

(Under Superintendent Mike Kapolkas leadership, the Chelsea School District began awarding Portrait of a Graduate (POG) MVP awards this year as one way district staff can commend each other and highlight the ongoing efforts to incorporate POG competencies into the work with students. Currently, anonymous nominations are made by district staff.)

The first award winner was Robin Prodin, who works at Chelsea High School (CHS). She has worked in the Chelsea School District for 15 years as a paraprofessional.

Prodin’s first year was at Beach Middle School under Kapolka’s leadership, and the following 14 years have all been at CHS.

“The satisfaction I find in my job is knowing that I can make a positive difference in students’ lives each day,” said Prodin. “I find it rewarding to help students become as independent as possible both academically and socially in the classroom and outside of school.”

Prodin says it was an unexpected honor to be named an MVP.

“I think that any of my coworkers could have also received this award,” she said. “They all exemplify so many of the POG competencies as well.”

This is how Prodin is described as an MVP: “Robin Prodin exemplifies so many of the POG competencies in her unwavering support of students. She is an advocate, working beautifully with all students, offering support in a personalized and compassionate way. When things don’t go as planned in a class, she problem solves creatively to help troubleshoot the issue so that everyone gets what they need. She has seemingly endless patience, even in the most trying circumstances. Through it all, she is empathetic and understanding, to both students and staff.”

Prodin is married and has two children, Ethan and Olivia, both graduates of CHS. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in psychology and worked for a number of nonprofit organizations as well as for the State of Michigan as a social services worker.

She took some time off to raise her children, but once they both had started school, she decided to work in the same school district that they attended.

“That was 15 years ago and I am still here in Chelsea,” said Prodin. “I continue to enjoy the amazing staff I work with each day, and I still enjoy helping students to be successful.”

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