ANNE CONWAY JUSTER '80

Long before noted educator Dr. Colleen Wilcox said it, Anne embraced the philosophy that “Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.” A tireless pursuer of knowledge, Anne graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in sociology. She then earned a master’s in education from Tufts University, and served for over a decade as a middle school social studies teacher in Providence, RI, and Cleveland. In the late 1990s, she was hired as the first Facing History and Ourselves (FHAO) employee in Cleveland, tasked with launching the local office for the now international organization that uses lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to racism, antisemitism and other forms of bigotry and hate to promote a more humane and informed citizenry. She designed and taught a 12-week unit on “The Dangers of Indifference,” advised the national office on fundraising, positioned the local office for growth and has served on FHAO Cleveland’s advisory board for over 20 years. 

In 2012, Anne earned a second master’s, this time in positive organizational development, from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. This led to a position as the Director of the Cleveland School Garden Partnership at the Cleveland Botanical Garden where Anne designed and implemented a program engaging students from underserved communities in outdoor learning, feeding her passion for learning in partnership with nature. 

Drawing on a deeply held value system modeled by and inherited from her parents, Anne uses her social and financial capital to shine a light on organizations that might otherwise go unrecognized. As Board Chair and President of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation since 2017, during which time she has overseen three strategic planning processes, she works tirelessly to benefit countless students in Ohio’s PK-12 public schools while raising the profile of the teaching profession. Embracing Emerson’s belief in the importance of the “garden patch” in bettering the world, Anne co-founded and serves as board chair of Spice Field Kitchen, an organization that empowers individuals of all ages to grow, prepare, and engage with food in ways that transform their health and communities. 

Described as a mentor, a visionary, and a quintessential “servant leader,” Anne has consciously chosen to engage with organizations aimed at progressive social change. As another supporter and longtime FHAO colleague noted, “It is hard to put into words the impact Anne has had on Cleveland. She leads with intellectual and emotional rigor, strategic acumen and with an empathetic soul.”

Those qualities are particularly evident in Anne’s deep and abiding commitment to Laurel, the alma mater of three generations of women in her family. She chaired the Head of School search that brought Ann V. Klotz to Lyman Circle and subsequently served as Chair of Laurel’s Board of Trustees for six years. During her tenure as Board Chair, the two Ann(e)s oversaw an ambitious strategic planning process, steered and implemented an historic gift that launched the programmatic development of the Butler Campus, and traveled the world to visit alumnae while also establishing cultural partnerships with schools in China and Japan. Ann Klotz writes: “Thought partner, visionary, champion, Anne helped me learn how to lead Laurel. Together, we figured out the tone we wanted to set and our mutual priorities: respect and dignity for all, access to a Laurel education, the continuation of a stellar academic and extracurricular program, and bold, innovative ideas that would set Laurel apart in the competitive Cleveland landscape. Anne is a courageous leader, asking great questions, with a bias toward action and optimism. Our first project was building the Magic Treehouse at Butler; Anne, in her infinite wisdom, knew we needed a place for young children on that campus. The Conway Pavilion and expansion of the Reid Lodge followed—we chose a circular shape for the pavilion because circles remind children that love has neither a beginning or an end, an echo of the Laurel ring so many proudly wear. It was thrilling to work on the construction of the Butler Center together, too.  From the first, she supported our vision in creating at Butler an experiential, interdisciplinary program; she was as excited about yurts for the Outdoor PreK as she was about helping to launch our Environmental Justice semester for high school girls throughout Cleveland. But undergirding all of Anne’s leadership is her deep respect for teachers; the Appleseed Fellowships that she and her beloved Joe established have given many, many faculty members the opportunity to explore new places, find inspiration and restoration, and return to school rejuvenated. And Anne’s commitment to access—that Laurel should be available to the smartest girls in Cleveland, whether or not their families can afford our tuition, mirrors my own belief that children learn best when our community is full of multiple identities and experiences. Her generosity in supporting legions of Laurel girls is unparalleled. It has been the privilege of my lifetime to have Anne Juster as a long-serving board chair, my partner in collaboration and to count her as a dear and trusted friend.”  

For her ability to bring people together to work creatively and collaboratively to address long-standing issues in her community, for being a true thought partner with the organizations whose missions she supports and illuminates, for her focus on access to education for all and mentoring the next generation of leaders, especially young women, the Laurel School Alumnae Association is proud to bestow its Distinguished Alumna Award on Anne Conway Juster ’80.

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