A Little Bit About Dr. Robert L. Walker
Dear Families of the Red Lion Area School District,
The purpose of this communication is to introduce myself to you and your families. I look forward to many future opportunities to connect and meet, but until we have those opportunities, here is a little bit about me and the people who have been a part of my journey. Most importantly, I am a 1998 graduate of the Red Lion Area School District!
Additionally, I am a 2003 graduate of James Madison University as a Music Education major. My musical career presented me with some amazing opportunities to perform all over the United States and even in Greece during the millennium change. Aside from the variety of musical ensembles we had at JMU, I had the opportunity to march in Drum Corps International (DCI) with the Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio.
Professionally, I began my career as a band director and music teacher at the middle school and high school levels in the West York Area School District. I completed my masters degree in Educational Leadership from Temple University and began my school administration career as an Assistant High School Principal at West York Area High School.
I had the fortune of spending two years as Assistant High School Principal at the Elizabethtown Area School District. At that point, I completed my doctoral studies degree in Educational Leadership at Immaculata University and successfully interviewed for an elementary principalship in the Eastern York School District where I served from 2012-2022. Most recently, I have led the Conewago Valley School District as Assistant Superintendent. In addition to my traditional studies, most recently I have had the opportunity to be a member of the Leadership York Class of 2022. With its mission to train and support individuals who have the desire to serve and lead within the York community, this program was a passion project for me and one that built upon my family's deep connection to the educational, non-profit, and service organizations in the York community for the past five decades.
What's my "WHY" for the Red Lion Area School District? Service, education and leadership. These are extremely important values to me professionally as well as personally to our family. Many members on both sides of our family have served in education and within non-profit services in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana and even Costa Rica! As I continue my career in education and leadership I am extremely humbled to have the opportunity to serve our schools and community in a greater capacity. I look forward to building life-long, impactful and powerful relationships within our community based on the foundation of these values. Together, we will continue to make Red Lion a highly-desired community for our families and ensure that it provides a world-class educational experience for our students!
So,-a little bit about me–what do I like to do in my free time? Drumroll please (can't resist a bad drummer joke!)... I still have a percussion studio for a few music lessons and I spend time at the McPherson Tree Farm, which has been a part of my wife's side of the family since 1953. When we are not running around like crazy people for our kids' (Sutton - Class of '28 and Hadleigh - Class of '29) sporting and music events, we enjoy our three English Springer Spaniels; Rosie, Blue and Grizzly. My leisure activities include golf, running, fishing, ice hockey, newly-learned surfing and playing the drums! I enjoy watching all types of sports, but my heart lies mostly with anything related to JMU and WVU. My wife, Gian and I enjoy taking family trips to the beach, traveling for live music, road trips with our kids' club teams and visiting our alma maters for sporting events with extended family.
Rob
Red Lion Class of '98