LYNN – Former principal of Ford school Dr. Claire Crane was honored at a ceremony on Monday with over 50 people in attendance and some sharing their stories with Crane.
Crane walked into the room to a crowd’s applause, giving hugs to her many acquaintances and saying, “good to see you.” With her 54 years in the Lynn Public School System as a School Principal, she made it a point to try and remember every student’s name, according to one parent, Beverly Ellis.
When the Daily Item reported in 2013 that Crane would retire, she decided later that she would stay one more year working at the school, according to Donna Coppola, member of the School Committee. After retirement in 2014, she continued her career as an educator at Salem State University where she had earned her bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Besides Crane’s career in Lynn, according to Coppola, Crane would help parents who sought to complete or further their education by getting their GED through night classes at the North Shore Community College. Crane also conducted citizenship and ESL classes.
“She made me a better person. She made everyone believe that they were special, and they could be anyone they wanted to be, and she supported you no matter what,” said a former student of Crane, Joe Harrison. Harrison was Crane’s student 50 years ago at the Callahan Elementary School and was at the ceremony to give her his gratitude.
“Once her student, always her student. She brought this school to life and made the community a family. Everyone is equal no matter what our title may be,” written by a former student Gina Minniger and presented by another teacher.
