For Kremlin-Hillsdale science teacher Anna Pirtle, the classroom has always been the place where curiosity thrives and discovery begins. A veteran educator with 20 years of experience, 13 spent at Kremlin-Hillsdale, Pirtle teaches everything from 8th-grade science to advanced courses like Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Forensics, and Zoology. Her commitment to a wide range of subjects reflects her lifelong fascination with learning and the natural world.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Pirtle said. “When I was in college, my interests were clearly in the sciences. I loved learning new things, and teaching allows me to keep learning while sharing that excitement with my students.”
Before moving to Oklahoma, Pirtle taught Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for seven years at Cahokia High School in Illinois. When she and her husband, Dave, relocated to Kremlin-Hillsdale, their family found a smaller, close-knit school community that quickly felt like home. Teaching in a small district, she’s watched many of her students grow from middle schoolers into young adults ready to take on the world.
“What I love most are the daily interactions with my students,” she said. “I’ve been able to teach many of them from 8th grade through senior year. Seeing them set goals, achieve them, and move to the next stage in life is incredibly rewarding.”
The best advice Pirtle’s ever received as an educator is simple yet powerful, be flexible and willing to adapt to the needs of her students. That philosophy has guided her through every lesson plan, lab experiment, and project over the years.
Away from science labs and classrooms, Pirtle’s favorite place to be is with her family. The Pirtles have three childrenJack, a senior at the University of Central Oklahoma; Chase, a Kremlin-Hillsdale senior; and Michalea, a sixth grader at the same school. Whether cheering on Chase at baseball or football games or attending school events, family and community remain at the heart of everything Anna Pirtle does.
