Southwest Guilford Middle School’s New Principal

R. Robert Richmond IV, Ed.D 

Greetings Southwest Community,

            My name is Robert Richmond IV and I am excited, honored, but most of all humbled to be your new principal here at Southwest Guilford Middle! I am here to be YOUR principal. I say your because I am not here for myself or my personal gain, but I am here for you and our students. Community is important to me because there is an ancient African proverb that states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I believe that statement and I believe it will take us all as partners to ensure that we grow our kids, inspire our kids, and ensure that they have the opportunity to not only survive in their future lives but to thrive in their future lives.

            I want to make sure that you have a sense of who I am. I was born and raised in West Virginia where I graduated from Marshall University with a degree in Elementary Education K-6. I moved to North Carolina where I began teaching with Thomasville City Schools. My journey brought me to GCS in 2012 where I taught and worked as a curriculum facilitator. After that, I worked with Durham Public School as an assistant principal for two years before returning to GCS as the assistant principal at Northern Guilford Elementary. I became the principal of Northern Guilford in 2018 and have served in that role until now.

            I completed my master’s and doctoral degrees at High Point University, and I also have taught as an adjunct professor at Greensboro College and Winston-Salem State University currently. I am married to my amazing wife Toy, and we have three children; a son in middle school, a daughter in first grade, and a son in Kindergarten. We also have a boxer and a pug.

            What I promise is to give you the best that I have, to include you in the conversation, and to always make decisions in the best interest of children. Children are the reason I am here, and I will never forget that. Be on the lookout for some opportunities for us to talk so that I can gain an understanding of your lived experiences in the Southwest community and your dreams for Southwest Guilford Middle School!

Yours for Children,

Dr. Robert Richmond IV

• Dr. Richmond's biographical sketch includes:
  • Born and raised in Bluefield, West Virginia
  • Graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, WV / Bachelor’s in Elementary Education K-6 
  • Graduated from High Point University in High Point, NC/ Master’s in Educational Leadership K-12

• • Teacher at Thomasville Primary School in Thomasville, NC
  • Teacher at Fairview Elementary in High Point, NC
  • Curriculum Facilitator at Parkview Expressive Arts in High Point, NC

• • Assistant Principal at Sandy Ridge Elementary in Durham, NC
  • Assistant Principal at Northern Guilford Elementary in Greensboro, NC
  • Principal at Northern Guilford Elementary School in Greensboro, NC 2018-2023
  • Principal at Southwest Guilford Middle School in High Point, NC starting in 2023

• • Greensboro College Adjunct Professor/ School of Education
  • Doctoral Graduate of High Point University/ Doctorate in Educational Leadership K-12/ Superintendent's Licensure
  • Research topic: Working Relationships Between Students, Parents, and Teachers
  • Adjunct Professor and Student Teaching Supervisor/ Winston-Salem State University

I am married to my wife Toy and we have two sons, Micai and Roy V, and one daughter, Keri. We have two dogs, Puggsly (a pug) and Nala (a boxer).

A Principal's Pledge

I will put students first

As a school, we are a service business. I’ll always remember why I chose education, to be part of a cause bigger than myself and to have a positive impact on our future. Creating opportunities for kids has been and will continue to be my top priority. 

I will be visible 

I will be in the hallways, classrooms, and at events as much as my schedule allows. I will make it a point to get to know staff, students, and parents and to be accessible to them. While my work does require me to be out of building at one point or another, I will make the most of the time I am at school.

I will engage our community 

Parents and the Southwest community are vital partners to our work. I will do my part to foster relationships with our families through community partnerships and to ensure that the Southwest community continues to play a vital role with OUR children.

I will be direct

I will articulate my views or values so that everyone knows my perspective. I will communicate regularly so people will know who I am and what I am about. I will lead with a moral compass that always places what is best for children at the center of every decision.

I will empower 

To be a leader, you must build the leadership capacity of others. I will work members of the staff to push beyond their comfort zone to further their own development. I will trust staff members to be professionals, and will not hesitate to praise good work. 

I will make tough decisions 

I realize that some hard calls will need to be made and pledge to make my decisions based on what will help the students most. I will be open about thought process and willing to share why I made the choices I had to make. I will also have difficult conversations with students, staff, and parents when necessary to further the vision and mission of Southwest Middle.

My vision will extend beyond standardized tests 

As a school, we must meet or exceed state requirements. While I will take this seriously as a leader and as a professional, I will remember that our goal is learning and growth for all of our students, and that many of the important lessons we teach are “not on the test.” This includes character, kindness, respect, life skills, and becoming a responsible citizen.

I will be accountable

As a servant leader, I commit to making tough decisions, listen and be direct but also realize that I will make mistakes. When they happen, I will take the responsibility and improve. I will not ask anyone to do anything I am not willing to do myself, including coming out of my comfort zone to learn and grow. We will grow together and continue to have Southwest be a great place to learn and work.