Robyn Hilton knew she wanted to become a teacher by the time she was in the fourth grade.
“My teacher at the time, Mrs. Morrissey, stood out as being engaging and caring,” said Hilton, a leadership and math teacher at Denair High School. “I knew I wanted to be just like her.”
What Hilton did not know, however, was that she’d one day be singled out as the Denair High School nominee to be Stanislaus County’s Teacher of the Year.
“It was always really important to me to give back to the school that had such an influence on my life,” said Hilton, a fourth-generation DHS graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Fresno State in 2012. “I am so thankful to work in a setting in which I directly relate to my students and their experiences on campus.
“Throughout my educational journey, I have always been blessed with some truly outstanding mathematics teachers. They helped me to be successful and to find joy in problem-solving. I knew that was the career path I wanted to pursue. I wanted to inspire my students to learn new concepts and work together with their peers to understand the beautiful world of mathematics.”
In her capacity as a leadership teacher, Hilton provides students with real-world experiences through on-campus activities, rallies, and service-oriented projects. By taking students to leadership conferences, she has exposed them to broader perspectives, while inspiring them to recognize their own voices and abilities. Students learn communication, teamwork, responsibility, and problem-solving — skills that will serve them beyond the hallways of Denair High School.
“As a proud alumna of Denair High, Robyn’s connection to the community is deeply rooted in everything she does,” said DHS Principal Breanne Aguiar. “Robyn returned to Denair to give back to the school that played a significant role in her own development, making her nomination for Teacher of the Year particularly significant.”
Hilton and husband Tyler have two children: 7-year-old Sawyer and 5-year-old Alayna. The Hiltons enjoy traveling — with Disneyland and Hawaii among their favorite destinations — and camping whenever they have a free weekend. In her spare time, Hilton enjoys sewing, golfing, and reading.
Hilton is one of two dozen Stanislaus County teachers who will be observed by the selection committee — comprised of educators, past Teacher of the Year honorees, and members of the Modesto Rotary Club — starting this week and continuing through March 13. Committee members will make site visits to select three finalists in four categories: TK-3, 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12. Those 12 teachers will be videotaped in their classrooms between March 20-31, with a special video created to honor the winners on May 5 at the Modesto Rotary Club luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel.
In June, the four category winners will represent Stanislaus County at the California Teacher of the Year program. Winners will be announced in September.
“I never imagined I would be nominated for Teacher of the Year,” said Hilton. “I am very proud of my career and the connections I have been able to build. My greatest accomplishments are my former students. To see them excelling in life is the biggest reward. I truly love my job.”
