meet sarah
Sarah Cronk is a nationally recognized speaker, social entrepreneur, and advocate for people with disabilities.
Sarah’s early interest in disability inclusion was inspired by her older brother Charlie, who is on the autism spectrum. At just fifteen years old, Sarah helped to create and coach the nation’s first school-based inclusive cheer team. More than thirteen years later, The Pleasant Valley High School Spartan Sparkles of Bettendorf, Iowa, continue to cheer for packed crowds and shine a bright spotlight on inclusion in the process.
A year later, Sarah launched Generation Spirit, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating inclusive spirit teams in schools nationwide. Since 2009, Generation Spirit has created over 225 inclusive teams in 31 states that have directly involved over 20,000 students.
Sarah and her work with Generation Spirit have been featured on CNN, NBC Nightly News, The Oprah Winfrey Show, People Magazine, The New York Times, and more.
Over the past decade, Sarah has built an impressive and unique repertoire of stories designed to change the way we think about disability, inclusion, and the power each of us has to spark meaningful change in our lives and communities.
Inclusive school culture starts with you.
A school is more than just a building. It is a shared experience– one that is shaped by the values of the people who attend the school in any given year. Sarah attended high school alongside her brother Charlie, who is on the autism spectrum. In sharing Charlie’s inclusion story, Sarah sets the stage for a powerful conversation about school culture and each student’s ability to positively influence one another’s experiences. She challenges students to ask: “How can we turn this school into a place where all students feel valued and celebrated?”
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS
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Understand the true meaning of inclusion and how it applies to all students
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Build a school culture that values and celebrates everyone
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Learn to connect with your purpose and lead from any seat
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Develop an early understanding of disability as a natural part of diversity
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Appreciate the power students have to positively impact one another's experiences
"I REALLY ENJOYED LEARNING FROM SARAH TODAY. IT MADE ME FEEL A PART OF SOMETHING AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED."
KRISTIN N.
STUDENT, LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL
