Early in her teaching career, Anne took a leave for one year, from the North York Board of Education, to teach in the remote native village of Fort Hope in Northern Ontario. The spiritual beliefs of the indigenous community had a great influence on her approach to learning and painting. It was during this time that she gained an appreciation for the fragile relationship between humans and their environment. The understanding that one takes no more than one needs from the environment resonated with her.

As an educator, Anne understood that individuals learn in many different ways. She was successful in engaging those children who disliked school by creating a multi-sensory learning environment in which they could thrive. In this rich environment surrounded by visual references as well as hands on activities, students became engaged in learning and took pride in their creativity and accomplishments.