Behr received the award on Tuesday, October 31, during HundrED’s annual Innovation Summit in Helsinki, Finland. Behr earned the distinction for “opening doors to many innovators” through his work with the Grable Foundation and Remake Learning, a network of learning innovators that Behr founded in 2007 to international renown.
Inspired by Mister Rogers’ famous “neighborhood,” Remake Learning connects more than 600 schools, libraries, museums, and other sites of learning to spark engaging, relevant, and equitable learning experiences. The Pittsburgh-based network is the world’s premier learning ecosystem, and its model continues to be replicated by regions around the globe. Behr and co-author Ryan Rydzewski have also explored the science behind Mister Rogers’ transformative approach to education in their book, When You Wonder, You are Learning.
Remake Learning’s success attracted HundrED to Pittsburgh in 2019. The organization’s Spotlight on Pittsburgh shared the city’s learning ecosystem with the world, highlighting the work of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and other organizations bringing cutting-edge programs to Pittsburgh’s learners. In 2020, HundrED named Remake Learning one of 100 most inspiring innovations in the world.
As Remake Learning’s model inspires learning ecosystems around the globe, HundrED recognized Behr for sparking a worldwide movement. In accepting the 2023 Champion of the Year award, Behr cited his own children and learners across Pittsburgh as his reasons for remaking learning. He called on the world to follow in Fred Rogers’ footsteps by remembering that learning and love are linked.
