ROBIN
PRATER
“From Mohawk to Midget Country”
By Duane Crawford
Putnam County’s newest kindergarten teacher comes from Mohawk
Country south of Moravia, Iowa. While growing up, she took
babysitting jobs that earned her money and naturally prepared her
for teaching young children.
Born on October 27, 1980, Robin Prater’s parents are Phil and
Sharon (Dickinson) Prater. Her father is a self-employed
painter, and her mother is a computer programmer. An older
sister, Jill, is a physical therapist in the Monroe County Hospital
in Albia. Her younger brother, Jeff, is a recent graduate of
Iowa State University with a degree in
horticulture.
Like most girls in small Iowa towns, Robin was born and raised with
a softball and basketball in her hands. In both sports, she
learned that teamwork and hard work are important values needed for
success in life.
As a Lady Mohawk in the Moravia High School, she played
3rd base on the softball team and guard on the
basketball squad. During her junior year, she earned
all-conference honors in both sports and was an all-state selection
in softball. Because she tore her ACL during her senior year,
she missed half of the basketball season and all of
softball..
With her father and FFA teacher providing guidance, Robin raised
and showed sheep. A pleasant smile appears when she
explains, “Dad was a huge help. He taught me how to
care for the sheep and how to show them in competition. I
also showed when I was in college. I probably spoiled
them. One I called Bo Bo and another
Jordan.”
Honors she has won with her sheep include Appanoose County Fair
Champion, division winner at the Iowa State Fair and at a show in
Omaha, Nebraska. She has taken her sheep to national shows in
Kansas City and Louisville, Kentucky.
Asked about the role models in her life and she answers, “My
parents. Both of them set the proper example of
behavior. They taught us kids the right values we need to
succeed.”
Robin was an academic achiever. She was the Valedictorian in
the Class of 1999. Following graduation, she attended
Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls and graduated with
an Associate of Arts degree in 2001. She also played softball
for the school. For the next two years, she attended the
University of Iowa in Iowa City and rooted for the Hawkeyes.
In May 2003, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary
Education.
When asked why she selected elementary education as a career
choice, she responds, “I’ve always enjoyed that age level.
Teaching them is a good way to have a positive impact on their
lives, especially when they are so young.”
From 2003-2005, Robin taught 1st and 2nd
grades in a combined classroom in Eldora, Iowa. “We had five
teachers,” she says of the unusual arrangement. “Each teacher
had specific teaching responsibilities. Such a grouping
requires teamwork and cooperation.”
When a better opportunity became available, she applied for and was
hired to teach at a Davenport, Iowa, pre-school during the
2005-2006 school year. “I really liked teaching there,” she
states, “but I wanted a job closer to my family. I’d also
started a quilt and bead shop with my sister. I moved back to
Moravia too late that year to find a teaching job. To keep
busy and earn income that year, I substituted and worked at a
bank.”
After being asked how she learned of the Putnam County job, a warm
smile appears with her reply, “The position was advertised on the
Internet. I’d been looking for vacancies near Moravia, but
there were few available.”
She describes her interview for the Putnam position, “I was given a
tour of the facilities and was instantly impressed. I was
especially attracted to the modern technology, and the fact that
all the K through twelve grades are in the same building. I
immediately felt welcome, and I’ve since found the administration
to be very supportive.”
What she soon learned was that some of her relatives in Seymour,
Iowa, were friends of another Iowegian who has her room next to
Robin. Diane McClain is the school’s counselor, and she is a
native of Seymour.
A radiant smile appears when she adds, “There is another connection
in Unionville with ties to Moravia. Mike Tomlin lives here,
raises lambs and is originally from Moravia. He’s a good
friend of the family. His daughter is in my kindergarten
class.”
Robin says of her activities and interest, “I attend the Promise
City Church of Christ. Grandfather Merle Prater is the pastor
there.”
Pausing momentarily, a shy smile appears when she adds, “You
probably think I’m crazy, but my present ambition is to run in a
marathon in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 26. To prepare for
the race, I’m running every day.”
Because I was once a distance runner, I have tremendous admiration
for anyone who aspires to run that grueling distance. When I
mentioned that 5th grade teacher Camille Preston had run
marathons, Robin says, “I know, because Camille inquired about the
race.”
Before leaving her classroom, I asked her about a poster that
reads, “Ten Class Rules.” The rules include: “Be nice to
everyone; Share; Follow directions and listen; and Don’t cut in
line. Robin explains, “On the first day of school the
students and I set those rules.”
Another poster titled “Classroom Helpers” catches my eye.
Students’ names are neatly printed on clothespins. Next to
each name are that student’s duties. They include: Line
leader, Paper passer, Calendar helper, Caboose and Pledge
leader. The Caboose’s duties include turning out the
lights. Grinning, Robin says, “Those duties are rotated so
every student feels part of the team and shares in the class
responsibilities.”
Robin lives with sister Jill in Moravia, and she commutes to and
from Putnam County. “Driving each day isn’t really all that
bad, Robin explains. “I spend the time listening to books
recorded on CDs. That makes the time go fast.”
As we were concluding the interview, Robin Prater’s students were
returning to class. They are a happy bunch! I hope they
will soon learn a bit about their teacher from Mohawk
Country. Besides raising, spoiling and showing sheep, she was
a standout athlete, head of her class, and now has ambitions to run
a marathon. Welcome to Midget Country, Miss Prater! And good
luck in the marathon.
