Barrets Chapel School said goodbye this week to a beloved teacher who is being deployed to Iraq.

Kittrell Robinson is Barrets Chapel’s In-School Suspension teacher. He is also a Memphis Police officer and an Army captain.  Mr. Robinson works overnights protecting the streets of Memphis then heads to school for a full day’s work inspiring children.

During a special ceremony on Monday, students spoke about how important Mr. Robinson is in their lives, calling him a father figure for all. There were tears as the school choir sent him off by gathering in a circle around Mr. Robinson and singing a blessing over him.

"Knowing that my kids are still there supporting me is what gives me my strength," said Mr. Robinson. "This does a lot for me. This is my support system. This is what makes me strong. This is what has built me." 

Mr. Robinson is no ordinary ISS teacher. He spends most of his days moving throughout the school. Instead of waiting for students to show up in his class; Mr. Robison works to speak with each one of them on a daily basis to encourage them and keep them out of trouble. He has invested in meaningful relationships with students that were on display as dozens of students waited to hug their favorite teacher goodbye.

WATCH AS MR. ROBINSON MAKES THE ROUNDS WITH STUDENTS AT BARRETS CHAPEL

Mr. Robinson, who is a medical logistics officer in the Army, is unsure when he will return from duty. However, he won't lose touch with his family at Barret's Chapel. Mr. Robinson will call in every week to read the morning announcements and send back videos so the students know he is still invested in their lives and that he still cares.

"The teachers will make me videos that I will interact with, and I will talk back to certain students that might need a little bump or might feel a little left out," said Mr. Robinson. "I’m going to interact with each and every one of them. That’s my goal, it’s my obligation."