Peterson Honored with Educators Award
Much of Anne Peterson’s work is by design. Last week, however, the Director of the Gosselin Center for Teaching and Learning at Kimball Union Academy received some well-deserved recognition that even she couldn’t anticipate.
Peterson, a chief architect behind the Academy’s unifying educational philosophy — KUA Design — was honored as a recipient of the 2025 Borislow Insurance Commitment to Excellence Award. The award is bestowed annually upon three individuals and celebrates leaders in education who innovate teaching practices, elevate educational standards, and enrich the overall student experience.
“Anne is incredibly deserving of this prestigious honor,” said Head of School Tyler Lewis P’28, who nominated Peterson for the award. “She’s a scholar of the science of cognition and how it informs the art of teaching to maximize learning. Over the past six years, she has expanded from a scope of student support to embedding best practices of teaching and learning into our academic and co-curricular programming. Her contributions have elevated daily practice, informed school policy and raised the consciousness and metacognitive awareness of every teacher and learner on our campus.”
According to Borislow Insurance, all full-time or part-time educators, administrators, or staff members who work at an independent school in the United States are eligible to be nominated for a Commitment to Excellence Award. Once nominated, individuals are evaluated based on their impact on education, innovative practices, leadership qualities, and community involvement.
Through her role in the learning center, Peterson spearheaded efforts to develop an educational framework for the Academy that guides faculty professional development and student engagement. The resulting philosophy, KUA Design, is applied across the institution, offering a science-back approach that gives students what they need for optimal growth and development.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition, and I am especially grateful to Tyler and the Academy for the nomination,” said Peterson, now in her 11th year on The Hilltop. “I want to thank my colleagues, who bring neuroscience-informed practices to life each day in classrooms, advisories, athletic fields, and dorms — work that improves teaching and learning outcomes for our students and fosters a strong sense of belonging in our community. Their dedication makes this work meaningful. Above all, I owe my deepest thanks to my students — past, present, and future — whose curiosity, humor, and effort inspire, challenge, and teach me every day. They are the reason I do what I do.”
Peterson, the first KUA employee to win the award, was recognized during an All-School Meeting in front of students and faculty alike. Winners receive a one-time stipend of $2,500 to be used for continued professional development as well as a commemorative plaque.
“Anne is driving tremendous change not only here at KUA, but literally around the world,” Lewis said. “She’s driving real change through leaning into the science and serving as a resource to both faculty and students here at KUA and well beyond. Ultimately, our kids are the greatest beneficiaries of this work.”
