Brian Graber has been principal at Highlands Elementary School for the past seven years.
Q: Where do you live?
A: Western Springs
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Portage, Michigan
Q: What do you like about being principal at Highlands Elementary School?
A: It’s an amazing school with an amazing community and wonderful students and parents.
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Q: Where did you earn your degrees?
A: I got my bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Taylor University in Indiana. I got my master’s in educational leadership at Concordia University Chicago. And I am working on my doctorate in educational leadership at Concordia.
Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?
A: I admired many of the teachers I had growing up. I decided I wanted to become a teacher in fifth grade.
Q: Where did you work previously?
A: I was a teacher in Fort Worth, Texas and I was a fifth-grade teacher in Western Springs School District 101.
Q: What is your wife’s name?
A: Lisa and we have two kids.
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: I enjoyed “The Testament” by John Grisham and I like the book “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel Pink. It’s about motivation.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: My wife and I love “This is Us.” My favorite movie of all time is the original “Back to the Future.”
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I like spending time with my family and kids. I like working around the house and doing home improvement projects. I enjoy water skiing. We go up to Wisconsin to water ski. We enjoy that.
Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: I’d like to travel through time.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: I am a big fan of deep dish pizza.
Q: What’s a favorite quote?
A: “Accept reality, but never use it as a reason not to strive for the ideal.” I think I made that up.
Shout Out is a weekly feature where we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
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