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Robert grew up in South Carolina, and after college and law school, returned to the state to practice law. For over a decade, Robert specialized in death penalty cases, representing men on death row. In this work, Robert strove to tell the stories of his clients’ childhoods, which often were marked by poverty and trauma. He interviewed dozens of teachers and was inspired by their work.
Eventually, he decided to become a teacher so that he could work with kids before the trajectory of their lives was set. At the same time, he co-founded Achieve Columbia, a nonprofit that built long-lasting and deep relationships with middle and high school students and their families through a unique combination of group and individualized mentoring, tutoring, resource coordination, and counseling to ensure that each student had the opportunity to succeed
Robert grew up in South Carolina, and after college and law school, returned to the state to practice law. For over a decade, Robert specialized in death penalty cases, representing men on death row. In this work, Robert worked to tell the stories of his clients’ childhoods which were marked by poverty and trauma. He interviewed dozens of teachers and was inspired by their work.
Eventually, he decided to become a teacher in Richland One so that he could work with kids before the trajectory of their lives was set. At the same time, he co-founded Achieve Columbia, a non-profit that built long-lasting and deep relationships with middle and high school students and their families through a unique combination of group and individualized mentoring, tutoring, resource coordination, and counseling to ensure that each student had the opportunity to succeed.
For Robert, the most rewarding part of his work through Achieve Columbia was watching students recognize their potential. As one Achieve Columbia student put it, “I just started to care.” This student summed up in one sentence what Robert hoped to accomplish – provide a student with room to hope so they can chart their own path. Robert’s work as a mentor and teacher led to Richland One recognizing Achieve Columbia as the Partner of Year in 2015.
Robert’s experience as a teacher and leading Achieve Columbia taught him how much was possible but also helped him recognize the real challenges that students and teachers face. After 7 years of teaching, Robert decided to devote his time entirely to his nonprofit work. Because of Achieve Columbia’s success, Robert was asked to become the executive director of Richland County Public Education Partners and bring the Achieve Columbia model with him.
Today, Robert spends his time advocating for public education at the state and local level and overseeing a Resiliency Team at Jackson Creek Elementary School in Richland School District Two. The Resiliency Team consists of a social worker and a behavior interventionist who began working with kindergarten students and their families and has now followed those students to second grade. This intensive support is demonstrating what is possible.
Robert has two sons, Will who graduated from Dreher High School and Ryan who is a junior there.
Copyright ©2021 // Paid for by Robert Lominack for Richland One School Board, PO Box 50444, Columbia, SC 29250