On behalf of the Parents’ Association, I am here to present the Joan Crocker Award for Community Service. The Crocker Award is given to a departing parent volunteer who has uniquely contributed selfless, abundant and dedicated years of service to the benefit of the Park School. It is named in honor of Joan Crocker who spent 25 parent years at Park and exemplified the kind of devotion and steadfast zeal this award recognizes in its recipients.
Even before we solicited nominees for the Crocker Award, it was clear that the 8th grade parents and guardians here today are a dedicated group, working hard over the years to make Park a stronger school and community. Before highlighting one parent, I would like to take a moment and thank all of you for the countless small and large ways that you have helped support Park, the PA, and our community over your time here. This has been the most active and vocal cohort I have ever been a part of! You’ve not only volunteered, you have also led activities, and you have helped make Park a thriving and engaging community. Just some of the volunteer areas I came up with when thinking about the 8th grade parents are: Springfest, Special Friends and Grandparents Day, Pumpkin bread drive, Library volunteers, admissions tour guides, Parent Affinity groups, parent volunteer coordinators, picture day volunteers, Class Rep Coordinators, AND taking on leadership roles like PA Secretary and President, member of the board of trustees, and chair of the board of trustees. Honestly, by just coming to a school event or meeting this year, you helped to make an impact on this wonderful community. I know for sure that the school will miss those of us moving on to other schools; and for those of you staying, we look forward to
continuing to engage and work with you in the future.
Now on to this year’s recipient! This parent arrived at The Park School in 2015, and for the last 9 years, she has consistently exemplified the 3 C’s of the PA: to Connect, Collaborate, and Contribute within the Park community.
She embodies partnership, innovation, generosity, and collaboration. She promotes a culture of inclusivity in the school community. Always willing to lend a hand in whatever way she can, and also happy to step out of the limelight. She has been an incredibly consistent and powerful force in the Park PA – and has taken a hands-on approach for every minute of her child’s journey. As one fellow parent who has worked closely with her during her time here said, “I felt extraordinarily grateful to be near someone who was so generous and kind and brought out the best in everyone around her- her behind the scenes work was perhaps even more incredible than her work as president.”
This parent has been a consistent community builder and leader and has always strived to make community engagement a fundamental and enjoyable component of the family journey. She models partnership and communication with faculty and families alike. She is great at connecting families together and extending her positive energy throughout Park. Whether as Springfest Auction Chair,PA Nominating Committee Chair, PA President, or the many other roles she has held, her outreach has spanned all grades and divisions.In addition, as a Nominating Chair, she made a point to get to know parents in all grades and encourage them to connect and contribute at Park. She has kept the Park community informed of PA and school events, helped increase parent engagement during and after the pandemic, and managed and shared important PA historical data to help us grow and improve.
I am happy to admit that she saw something in me that I didn’t see when she invited me to the role of PA President a couple of years ago. She has always inspired me to find ways to engage with the school and families, even when I felt new and unsure of my place. She makes volunteering fun and reminds us often of just how special this community is.
This year’s recipient provided leadership in the task force to restructure the Park PA financial model, and leaves behind a lasting legacy for the PA with her dedication and leadership.
When I think of this parent and Park, I think of someone who worked tirelessly to bridge communities and find connection and collaboration in all places, making sure every parent feels heard and appreciated, always centering our kids and their experiences, and always proud of the work that Park has accomplished.
Her presence at Park has been remarkable and her commitment to the PA constant – it is for these reasons that she was voted this year’s recipient of the Crocker Award by current and former PA Board members. It is a bittersweet moment that we say THANK YOU and farewell to this incredible parent volunteer.
We are so pleased to have the honor to dedicate the 2024 Crocker Award to Eliza Hoover!
