2017_cranon_alexander | Woodward HOF

Kathleen Cranon Alexander Inducted 2017 - Class of 1969

There were many stops along the way as Kathleen transitioned from chalk drawings found on the sidewalks of Stickney Avenue to the tile and wooden floors of Woodward High School and the classroom of World renowned sculptor and artist Mr. LeMaxie Glover.

With her mother, Geraldine Barnett, Woodward Class of 1944, leading the way, Kathleen or Kathy as she was known to her friends, was a second-generation graduate of both Hamilton and Woodward. Kathleen's sister, Charlene, Woodward Class of 1968, is still her best friend along with her treasured girlfriends from the neighborhood Carla Edwards, Brenda Rowlett, Patricia Logan, Leslie Wright, Judy Allen, and Annette Harper. With her girlfriends contributing the chatter and Mrs. Markopolous's perceptive advice emanating from her "red pen," Kathleen breezed through her senior year as Feature Editor of the Tattler’s Chatty Cathy Corner.

Not only did Kathleen receive her cherished Woodward diploma in June of 1969, but she was also

named "Miss Debutant of 1969" by the Toledo Business and Professional Women’s Organization. Along with the honor came an academic scholarship to the school of Kathleen's choice, Mary Manse College. As part of her course work, Kathleen returned to Woodward for her semester of student teaching under the direction of art teacher, Mrs. Wisely. Receiving her degree in Secondary Education, Kathleen was accepted into Boston’s prestigious "School of Fashion Design," where while working on her degree, met and married Dr. Drew Alexander.

Moving to the Dallas, Texas area, Kathleen began her teaching career with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas providing art instruction to grades K through 8 at "Christ the King School," where she also served as the school's assistant principal. It was during her tenure with "Christ the King" that Kathleen received Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year Award, and in 1996 she was also named Teacher of the Year for the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.

Kathleen's Art Camps were known throughout the Greater Dallas area for providing after school and summer enrichment in the arts at several of the region's Community Centers. Kathleen opened her own art school in the prestigious Highland Park area of Dallas in 1999. Her themed Summer Art Camps have been extremely successful drawing generous praise from the Dallas Morning Newspaper.

Kathleen 's husband of 43 years, Drew, is a positive and very effective doctor in the Dallas area and together they have two very successful daughters; Kadra and Arika, five grandchildren , and one great grand child.

Kathleen attributes her success to her loving family, her instilled resolve and determination, and her highly developed skills in imparting the enjoyment of art to others.