Jeanne Cronce has a Little Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Shawano.
Cronce is a Shawano native, graduating from Shawano High School. She earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and taught for 23 years in the then-Shawano-Gresham School District. Cronce returned to Marian College to get her masters in educational leadership. She was principal at Shawano Community Middle School for five years and then Lincoln School for seven years, retiring in 2007.
Cronce then worked part time for CESA and is now the part-time student activity coordinator for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Shawano.
Cronce and her husband, Dennis, who is co-owner of Hometown Real Estate, have been married 23 years. They live in Shawano, where she enjoys reading, crocheting, walking, flower gardening and spending time with her extended family.
Cronce is also a docent at Heritage Park, on the city planning commission and volunteers at St. James Lutheran School. She teaches Junior Achievement and is on the JA and Community Education boards. Cronce previously was on the Safe Haven and St. James School boards.
Q Why did you become involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters?
A “I’ve always heard about Big Brothers Big Sisters and that it was a great program. When I heard it was coming to Shawano, I knew it was something I wanted to do. After being in the school system, I knew there was a great need for many children to have a positive adult in their lives, and I hoped I could be one for one of the children.”
Q How did you get started?
A “It was a project of Leadership Shawano County. My manager at NWTC was in Leadership Shawano County at the time and I told her I would like to do it. Chris (Marcks) came and interviewed me and matched me with my Little Sister, Anna. There are site-based matches, which means I can’t take her anywhere, and community-based, which means I can. There are strict guidelines and you have to sign up for a year. It’s rather involved until you get started. I was one of the first ones to get a match and started in November.”
Q How do you like it?
A “I look forward to seeing Anna every week. She just makes me smile. She’s a smart little girl, cute as a bug, loves to read, and do whatever I bring as a craft. She likes to share what she does in school.”
Q How can others get involved?
A “Contact Chris Marcks. It’s an interview, background check and then Chris finds a match. I think there’s about 11 matches so far, but we would like to have more. There’s such a need for positive role models. It makes me feel excited, happy and full of joy to know that I’m helping.”
story created on Thursday 1/8/2015 at 10:38:41 am by Jody Otros
story modified on Friday 1/9/2015 at 1:39:55 pm by Lee Pulaski
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