A Lifetime Dedicated to Literacy: Sally Crane Receives DAR Literacy Leader Award
A Well-Deserved Honor for a Lifetime of Literacy Leadership
This week, my wife, Sally Crane, received a Literacy Promotion Award from the Stevens Point chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. While she would probably be the first person to deflect attention away from herself, I think this recognition is both meaningful and well deserved.
I've had a front-row seat to Sally's dedication to education for more than forty years.
Even back when we were dating, summers weren't exactly a break from teaching. While many people looked forward to time off, Sally spent countless hours preparing for the coming school year. I can still remember her loading the back seat of her car with tagboard, markers, paper, and every imaginable art supply as she created educational games and learning materials for her students. Long before Pinterest and online teacher resources existed, she was designing hands-on activities from scratch because she wanted every child to have the best possible learning experience.
That same dedication continued throughout her career.
After earning her master's degree, Sally became a reading specialist, a role she has embraced for more than three decades. During that time, she has helped countless students develop confidence and skill as readers, coached fellow educators, presented at the Wisconsin Reading Convention, and served as a leader and advocate for literacy throughout our community.
One project especially close to her heart has been the Books from the Heart program in the Stevens Point schools. Through this effort, books are placed directly into the hands of children, helping build home libraries and encouraging a lifelong love of reading. The program has positively impacted countless families and has been made possible through the support of many community partners—including the Daughters of the American Revolution.
That is one reason this week's award feels particularly meaningful. It came from an organization that has not only championed literacy in our community but has also actively supported one of the programs Sally has worked so hard to build and sustain.
Awards are nice, but what impresses me most isn't a plaque or a certificate. It's the thousands of hours spent helping children learn to read. It's the evenings spent planning lessons, the summers spent preparing materials, the mentoring of fellow teachers, the presentations, the volunteer work, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.
For decades, Sally has quietly devoted herself to making a difference in the lives of others. The impact of that work reaches far beyond any classroom. It can be seen in the students she has taught, the educators she has mentored, and the community she has helped strengthen through literacy.
Congratulations, Sally, on this well-deserved recognition. I couldn't be prouder of you.
And thank you to the Stevens Point chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for honoring her work and for your continued support of literacy programs throughout our community.
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