shoreupdate.com

By Avra Sullivan

“It is important for young people to have as many positive role models in their lives as possible,” according to Sharon and Bert Robertson. They truly live out their own words as active volunteers for the Character Counts Program in Queen Anne’s County Public Schools. The Robertsons currently coach at Centreville Middle School. Prior to this, they served as coaches for several years at Kennard and Grasonville Elementary Schools.

Bert Robertson has plenty of experience in the coaching department. He was a soccer coach for many years and is one of the original founders of the Kent Island Soccer League. Sharon brings 20 years of experience as a teacher in the Queen Anne’s Public School System. She first learned about the Character Counts program as a board member for the Community Partnerships for Children and Families and began as a coach for a first grade class at Grasonville Elementary. After a few years of volunteering, she convinced her husband Bert to join her, and the two have worked as a team ever since.

Each week, Sharon and Bert provide a lesson to students in their assigned class on one of the Six Pillars of Character. Sharon designs the lesson plans, and Bert brings all the necessary materials as well as supporting in the lesson. “The children all seem to want to participate in the lessons. We enjoy having young people tell their parents about us being their Character Counts Coaches.” Bert and Sharon are “strong believers in the six pillars of character” and “just thoroughly enjoy” volunteering and working with kids.

Bert, a “city boy,” and Sharon, a “country girl,” met in college and have been married for 44 years. They have one son and two grandchildren. They also are very involved in the fight against drunk driving, recently completing a public service video for the Maryland Highway Safety Office.

Anyone interested in becoming a Character Counts coach should contact Jacki Carter at 410-758-6677 or email her at jcarter@qac.org. With the start of the school year around the corner, residents are encouraged to volunteer as coaches with the Character Counts Program.