Oak Ridge Principal Helps Students Discover a Love of Reading

Getting middle school students interested in books can be difficult, especially when they do not see themselves as readers. At Robertsville Middle School, part of Oak Ridge Schools, Principal Brian Tinker and his team are paying close attention to what helps students engage with books and creating opportunities for them to grow as readers. 

A new reading class at Robertsville invites students to choose books that interest them, explore different texts, and discuss what they are reading. Tinker said educators are beginning to see students take a greater interest in books and approach reading with more enthusiasm. 

“That change in attitude and engagement is an important success because we know that students are much more likely to grow when they are invested in the learning,” Tinker said. 

The growing interest in reading is just one example of how Robertsville’s educators are working together to understand what students need and help them succeed.

“Whether it is changing students' attitudes toward reading or helping an individual student make significant academic growth, the common thread is adults working together, knowing their students, and being intentional about finding what will help each student succeed,” Tinker said.

Through its partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Robertsville has focused on strengthening its leadership team and teacher collaboration. In professional learning communities, or PLCs, teachers identify essential standards, develop common assessments, and examine student work to plan support or enrichment.

“We have worked to create a culture where data is used as a tool for reflection and action rather than simply as a measure of performance,” he said.

Tinker is quick to credit the people working alongside him: Assistant Principal Christy Free, Dean of Students Scott Hinton, PLC Coach Katy Jones and Robertsville’s teachers. He said the team’s willingness to support one another and build relationships with students and families is helping move the school forward.

Tinker’s leadership shows how principals can bring educators together to advance student achievement. Recently, Tinker noticed a student absorbed in a book they had chosen for themselves. Until then, the student had never really enjoyed reading.

“Moments like this are such a meaningful reminder of why the work we are doing matters,” Tinker said.