Wendy Y. (Sanders) Robinson

 Wendy Y. Robinson, age 72, departed this life on Friday, August 18, 2023. She was born on October 17, 1950 in Birmingham, AL. She was the youngest daughter of the late Willie and Lorene Sanders. Her family moved to Fort Wayne, IN in the early 50’s. She attended kindergarten through Grade 12 ,in Fort Wayne Community Schools, graduating from Central High school in 1969. She attended Depauw University where she met the love of her life Jim, and married him on June 23, 1973 after graduating from DePauw . She was hired by Fort Wayne Community Schools as a third grade teacher that same month. 

 Dr. Robinson had many academic accomplishments throughout her life. In 1973 she received her  B.S. in Elementary Education from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. In 1978 she received her M.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana/Purdue in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1990 she received her M.S. in School Administration from Indiana/Purdue in Fort Wayne, Indiana, And finally in 1996, she received her Ed. D. in Educational Administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.  

Dr. Robinson had a wonderfully full and prestigious career all in the field of education here in the Fort Wayne Community Schools. She worked her way up through every stage of the school system starting in 1973 as an elementary school classroom teacher, in 1986 she became an elementary school Assistant Principal, in 1988 she became an elementary school Principal, in 1991 she became an Area Administrator, in 1994 she became the Assistant Superintendent, in 1995 she became the Deputy Superintendent, and in 2003 - 2021 Dr. Robinson was the Superintendent for Fort Wayne Community Schools.  

Dr. Robinson had many accolades and awards throughout her career in the school system.  Her awards include : 2019 - Amiga of the Year, Latinos Count, 2019 - Thurgood Marshall Drum Major for Social Justice Award, Fort Wayne Urban League, 2018 - AASA National Superintendent of the Year Finalist, 2018 - AASA Indiana Superintendent of the Year, 2016 – Leaders to Learn From, Education Week,  2015 – Outstanding PTA Partner, IndianaPTA, 2013 – Chairman’s Award, Indiana Civil Rights Commission, 2012 – Mike Kneale Educational Excellence in Leadership Award, Education Research & Development Institute (ERDI), 2010 – Communities of a Lifetime Award of Excellence, Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, 2009 – Joseph E. Hill Superintendent of the Year Award, The National Alliance of Black School Educators, 2008 – IPFW Educators for Excellence, 2007 – District II Superintendent of the Year, Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents 2005 – Athena Award, Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce,  2004 – Helene R. Foellinger Award, YWCA, 2004 – Elizabeth Dobynes Award, Fort Wayne NAACP, 2002 – Martin Luther King Award, Fort Wayne NAACP, 2002 – Bel Award, Junior Achievement, 2002 – Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree, Indiana Tech, 2001 – Fellowship, Broad Superintendent’s Academy. 

Along with all of her work in the Fort Wayne Community school system, Dr. Robinson also participated in many other professional activities over the years within the greater Fort Wayne community,  they include… Board Member- Parkview Hospital , Board Member- Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Board Member- Learning Forward, Member, IDOE Superintendent Collaborative Member, Rae Magnet Wire Scholarship Committee Member, National Alliance of Black School Educators Member, American Association of School Administrators Member, National School Boards Association, Member, Indiana School Boards Association Member, Indiana Urban Superintendents Association. 

Wendy was preceded in death by her parents Willie and Lorene Sanders; sisters, Bessye Taylor and Jessica Sanders and brother, Billie Sanders.

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years Jim; sons Jason and Damon; Grandchildren Allen, Aaron and Ai’Yana; four nieces and three nephews and a host of cousins.

Dr. Robinson loved her family more than life itself. She loved everyone she taught as well as every student that came through the system and she referred to all of them as her “babies”.

She was a phenomenal leader and role model to all those who had the opportunity to work with her. Her impact on public education will last forever. As a wife, mother, grandmother, friend and colleague she will be missed. 

All services will be held at The Clyde Theater, 1808 Bluffton Rd., with a public viewing on Friday, August 25 from 3-7pm, and Saturday, August 26 from 10-11am. Funeral service will start at 11:00am on Saturday.  A private burial will follow.   There will be a repast directly following the funeral service for family and close friends at Quimby Hall. 

In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to the  Dr. Wendy Robinson Scholarship Fund. Checks can be sent to Wendy Y. Robinson Scholarship Fund c/o Fort Wayne Community Schools 1200 South Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN , 46802. You can also pay on-line by going to https://fwcs.revtrak.net/  

The funeral service will be live streamed on Saturday, August 26th at 11:00am. Following are the instructions to find the live stream...

1. Join the Fort Wayne Community Schools Facebook group BEFORE the Saturday live stream  

2. You will see a notification when the stream becomes live at 11:00am in Facebook... Click on that notification.

3. You can also go to the Fort Wayne Community Schools Facebook Group and click on the Live Stream post

If you would like to view the documentary, made by Rod Ovitt, to celebrate Dr. Robinson's life and acknowledge her contributions to the Fort Wayne Community Schools, the city of Fort Wayne, the state of Indiana, and nationally, here is the link to view it... www.fwcs.info/drrobinson

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