The Public School Forum’s Education Leadership Award was created and named in honor of Dr. Jay Robinson in 2000 to recognize exemplary leaders who have made outstanding contributions to public education. Dr. Jay Robinson was one of our state’s most distinguished education leaders. His career spanned 50 years, beginning as a math teacher and basketball coach in Cabarrus County, becoming a school principal and later superintendent of schools in first Cabarrus and then Charlotte-Mecklenburg school systems. He served as vice president for public affairs and special projects for the University of North Carolina system and chaired the State Board of Education. He was also the first president of the Public School Forum and served as an Emeritus Member of the Board until his death in April 2000.
Previous Jay Robinson Education Leadership Award Recipients
2023 – Z Smith Reynolds Foundation
2019 – Barbara and Jim Goodmon
2018 -Ann Goodnight
2017 – Howard N. Lee
2016 – Governor James G. Martin, John Dornan and Jo Ann Norris
2015 – Governor James B. “Jim” Hunt, Jr. and Carolyn L. Hunt
2014 – Dr. Mark Edwards
2013 – Dr. Edward Eugene “Gene” Causby and Dr. Patricia “Pat” Ashley
2012 – Justice Burley Mitchell and Dr. Peggy Smith
2011 – Erskine Bowles and Dr. Sam Houston
2010 – Lawrence L. “Larry” Seigler
2009 – Dr. Dudley E. Flood
2008 – Dr. William C. Harrison
2007 – Phil J. Kirk, Jr.
2006 – Dr. Ann T. Denlinger
2005 – Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr.
2004 – Dr. Robert E. Bridges
2003 – Dr. James F. Causby
2002 – Dr. Tom McNeel
2000 – Dr. Laura Bilbro-Berry