Beyond the Title: Kabby Hong

Kabby Hong (Wisconsin’s Most Influential Asian American Leaders, 2022) is an English teacher at Verona High School, and was named Wisconsin’s Teacher of the Year for 2022. With over 20 years teaching experience, he has given several presentations for The New York Times on argumentative writing. He has received awards from Stanford University and the University of Chicago for his effectiveness as a teacher. Over the past two years, he has used his platform as a prominent educator to speak out about the sharp increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans. The sone of Korean immigrants and born in Los Angeles, he received his bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri – Columbia and went on to get a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Colorado – Boulder.

What does presence before performance mean to you – and how do you stay grounded when the pressure to perform is high?

I always think about the people that I’m advocating for and how often they don’t have a seat at the table or they don’t have an opportunity to speak. It reduces the pressure to perform because it’s not about you – it’s about those that you represent or the people you advocate for.

What’s the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?

I had a mentor teacher tell me that the closer you are to your authentic self, the better you will be as a teacher. I think it’s true in the classroom and true in life. Removing the artifice and the insecurities to become who you really are and it’s intensely attractive to others because you can’t fake authenticity.

Tell us about a time you had to lead before there was consensus – when you were the only one who saw it, believed it or were willing to act. What gave you the courage to move anyway?

I would rather fail at something that I believe is a grave injustice than to succeed at a trivial issue that is easily solved. I was one of the leaders that fought for pay equity in our school district when our district was discriminating against women and veteran teachers. I knew we had to aggressively act by communicating the pay inequities we found and to confront our district leaders who were actively involved in this injustice. We eventually went on to win the Federal lawsuit, changed our salary schedule and made those victimized whole with backpay and restitution.

What’s one question every new leader should ask during their first 100 days and why?

Where am I getting truthful, honest and sometimes contrarian opinions on what’s really happening in my organization? If you don’t have a culture of leaders who are willing to say “no” or tell you that something isn’t working then your leadership is bound to fail.

Who’s in your “corner” – that voice of wisdom you trust when things get tough? How do you build and protect that circle?

My wife. She has the aspect of Korean culture that I love and it is brutal honesty. You need people who support you when times are tough, and remind you why you are fighting. You also need people who are honest with you and can provide checks and balances for your blind spots.

Leadership can be exhausting. What practices or boundaries help you avoid burnout and stay aligned with your purpose?

I try and say no to things, but it’s a work in progress because it’s hard for me to do that.

Clout fades. Calling lasts. How do you stay anchored in impact over recognition?

Clout is about ego. It’s selfish. A calling is about others. It’s about the collective.

What’s a leadership value you refuse to compromise even when its inconvenient?

You have to be willing to speak up and advocate for important things even if it’s hard. We live in dark times when it’s so easy to just stay silent. I think speaking up is the number one trait of a leader in 2025.

What book, quote, lyric or even scripture captures how you lead or how you live?

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer” by Albert Camus. I love this quote because it reminds me that we are stronger than we think we are. We can do more than we think we can.

When life gets heavy or leadership feels overwhelming, what’s something you turn to: music, travel or cultural connection that helps you feel like yourself again?

I love travel because it physically separates you from your work and it reminds you that the world is a big place and too often our problems are not as big as they can feel.

Who is your favorite sports team?

I’ve always had a soft spot for the LA Dodgers.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Thanksgiving. It’s about food and family.