Daily Inspiration: Meet Anne Hribar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Hribar.

Anne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
A product of Northeast Ohio and current resident, my story stems from my desire to connect ideas and construct meaning in a constant search for ways to spark our precious youth to be peaceful change agents who see a purpose for themselves. My parents, John and Mary Kendel, found ways to have the world be our school. While I did attend a traditional school, my wise parents knew that school was every encounter, every experience. It was, indeed, natural for them. Modeling the way of being a good neighbor in all of those small actions we take for granted- certainly ordinary actions and words, so easy to live out, are extraordinary: the power of a smile to save someone on a given day; holding open a door for someone who feels irrelevant and unnoticed; a card…just because; leaving a book out on the table knowing I may not resist; using the fridge for more than alphabet magnets- using it for an occasional current event to bring the world of obligation to our steps; actions over words on the regular. Not to say there weren’t constraints growing up- I was not permitted a Barbie doll (dad got me one, my first, for my 30th saying I was now “ready”) because they worried what message it may have in my ideas of successfulness and they did permit me to play ice hockey- the only girl! This traditional progressiveness is what shaped me in my search for social justice and civic engagement and what better arena than education. With all of this said, being a mom was (is) the best experience in my life and nothing compares to those joys and hardships in the role of a lifetime as I strive to do it responsively and lovingly. I have the most hard-working husband, John, a creative and hysterical son, Matt, the most industrious and witty daughter, Annaliese, her husband, my son-in-law, Collin who is very driven, and three gorgeous, talented, and hysterical granddaughters: Ivy, Lila, and Nova.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest obstacle is myself. By this I mean I wish to maximize the scope and impact of meaningful learning and am curious by nature. Sounds great at the start but I have learned over time that this can derail if brakes are not placed to be more measured. I often dream as if there are no ceilings and need the realist in me, sometimes hiding away, to bring me back down to a common foundation. I need to remind myself that change can be necessary and exciting but needs time to happen intentionally and conscientiously for better results with less force. Community building takes time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have been in education since earning my M.ED. many hundreds of students ago and have always been drawn to integrated learning experiences for students and educators both in and out of the classroom. While I began my career mainly teaching math and some ELA with a focus on integrated human rights, social teachings, and the Global Goals, I sought to be STEAM minded. This meant for me to employ strategies in the classroom that were inquiry based, innovative, integrated, and rigorous while having at the core a sense of usefulness in fostering civic-minded thinkers and stewards. Well, at least this was and continues to be the goal as I practice design thinking to learn myself how to do this work successfully! Holocaust studies has also been a passion of mine early on in my career and still is today. I am currently at Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, Ohio and while supporting the school in STEAM education (we earned designation in the state of Ohio for STEAM!), I also seek to support STEAM in the humanities and entrepreneurial thinking (even taking an improv class with my son two years ago to learn more strategies and techniques). I have the pleasure of doing this work within our school and beyond as I engage throughout the Diocese of Cleveland, learn from and with the Ohio STEM Learning Network, and partner with many organizations to further opportunities which enrich those we serve. Such rich thought partners include Jeremiah Myers at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Lisa Lefstein-Berusch with Facing History and Ourselves as we collaborate to foster community building and belonging in the classroom space and school as a whole. This keeps me the perpetual student and I have been in one sort of class or another since preschool at age three (this currently has me in three graduate programs concurrently: The University of Notre Dame, Kent State University, and Baldwin Wallace)! I recently passed the FAA part 107 exam which was the most challenging test I ever prepared for and passing that was the best feeling! Two summers ago, my peer teacher, Traci Borden, and I had the honor to travel with a Cleveland team led by Amnon Ophir with the Classroom Without Borders Poland Personally cohort. This past summer I was again immersed in place-based learning in Poland through the leadership of the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial Education Commission and leaders from Yahad-In Unum as we
began a journey of learning with 13 Ohio-based educators to meet with Holocaust witnesses, survivors, and historians throughout the greater Krakow area as an investigation of the killing sites scattered across this region forensically studying the fate of the individual Jewish communities that perished.
Words cannot express the impact of such an experience. Recognizing that no one wants to be forgotten and how this history is still relevant today is my continuous project. I continue to question, learn, connect, and collaborate while I ask those I support to rethink and reimagine the purpose of a teacher and the purpose of a school in today’s world.

How do you define success?
Success is personal and subjective for sure and data analytics cannot truly measure the feeling of it. For me, success may be found when I am engaged in learning with anyone- an encounter with a student, peer, family member or friend, or an idea and the magic of an ah-ha moment from these encounters which produce pure synergy and moving the needle more because humanity is meant to be collaborative and communicative for the greater good of all.

Image Credits
These all are my phone and have all had media release.