Robin Deverill Croteau ’00

Using Her Degree

by Stacy Hannings ’14

Another school year has started for Robin Deverill Croteau ’00, this time as the assistant principal of Winchester School in Winchester, New Hampshire. Robin has worked within other southwestern New Hampshire high schools, including ConVal and Keene, as a science teacher and administrator, for nearly 22 years. After a decade in the classroom as a science teacher, Robin pursued a Master of Education in educational leadership and became an endorsed principal and curriculum administrator. She has also served as the assistant principal of Mascenic High School in New Ipswich, New Hampshire.

While at Colby-Sawyer, Robin was one of very few secondary education majors and one of only two who graduated in 2000 with a biology/secondary education degree. Robin credits Colby-Sawyer's small environment with instilling in her the importance of collaboration and connecting with others.

“The intimacy of my time at CSC has shaped me in many ways,” Robin said, “but most notably in my specific preference to be an administrator in a small enough school where I know, at the very least, everyone's name.” It was faculty members Brad Sarchet, Ben Steele (Robin’s advisor) and Bill Thomas who helped her feel ready to enter the classroom and begin her teaching journey after graduation.

Robin’s biggest influence on her life came from her family, who taught her to work hard for what she wanted and to not give up even when things get challenging. Her advice for others would be to go for what you want even if it’s not what everyone else wants. She has two children and said, “Teaching your own children is much different and more challenging than having the credentials to teach others. Blame it on genetics!”

Robin lives on a lake in southern New Hampshire and loves to swim, kayak, hike and visit breweries and distilleries with her partner. She continues to be passionate about education and hopes to one day be the principal of a school in southwest New Hampshire.

“I am proudest of the fact that I can tell people I use my degree every day,” she said.