By Kathy McDermott Goodman
MiltonNews DAILY Correspondent
As printed in the Weekly Record Herald on Friday, June 10, 2011
Judith Ann Stepp Crew Craig, a 1957 graduate of Milton-Union High School, was nominated for the Milton-Union Hall of Honor in 2010. And it’s no wonder she was, as she has made her alma mater proud with a life full of many great accomplishments, both personal and professional.
Her sister, Jayne Stepp Campbell, says of Craig, “She was a huge success and left a huge legacy. A legacy is not the wealth or material possessions that one has left behind, but the people one has helped develop to help carry on God’s work.”
After graduation, Craig worked for an insurance agency in West Milton and continued her education by taking classes at the Miami University Extension from 1958 to 1961. In 1962 she married Edwin L. Craig and moved to Kokomo, IN. They started a family the following year.
While raising two boys, Mike and John, Craig began her career in education by teaching preschool classes for the Faith Presbyterian Church in Kokomo, IN from 1970 to 1971. She worked as a substitute teacher for Kokomo School Corporation while taking classes towards a degree in Education. .
Craig was recognized for high scholastic achievement at the Indiana University at Kokomo Honors Day in 1973 and 1974. She was also named “Outstanding Student in Education” in 1975.
Craig’s persistence paid off and she received her degree of Bachelor of Science in Eduction, With Distinction, from Indiana University and her State of Indiana Teacher’s License in 1975. She was then inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, the most selective national honor society of educators, in 1976.
In 1977 Craig obtained a full-time position at Kokomo School Corporation teaching at Lincoln Park Elementary School. While teaching and continuing to raise her two sons, she found the time to volunteer for many extra-curricular activities at school: cheerleading sponsor, athletic supervision, software and textbook adoption committees, young author’s session leader and United Way representative.
Craig continued her formal education, received her Master of Science in Education from Indiana University in 1980 and her Life Teacher’s License from the State of Indiana in 1986.
At one point in time, someone gave Craig a notepad that stated “The Queen Says……” at the top. Her family and friends soon learned how effective it was to receive a note from the queen. From then on she was known to her family as “The Queen.”
In 1990 she volunteered to be on a committee to evaluate methods to integrate technology into the classrooms in the Kokomo School Corporation. Craig also applied and was selected for the position Computer Educational Consultant for the Kokomo School Corporation and began to educate teachers on how to effectively integrate technology into the classroom.
At the same time, Craig volunteered to become a certified facilitator for the Franklin-Covey “Seven Habits of Successful People” workshops. She also helped to develop and facilitate mentoring workshops for teachers who were assigned a student to mentor.
While she was teaching, Craig was a member of and participated in several professional organizations: Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Lambda Theta, Delta Kappa Gamma, Kokomo Area Reading Council, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), ICE (Indiana Computer Educators) and HECC (Hoosier Educational Computer Coordinators).
She also provided significant philanthropic support for the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation and Corner Prairie Living History Museum.
In 2004 Craig retired from full-time teaching and and began to devote more time to volunteering at Corner Prairie and as a teacher’s assistant at Hamilton Heights Elementary, the school her grandson attended. Corner Prairie recognized her in 2007 for giving over 300 hours of volunteer time during that year.
Craig’s husband always referred to her as being “R.E.A.L.” The “R” stands for relationships – she was a master at developing relationships. The “E” stands for enabling – she enabled others through her teaching and coaching. The “A” stands for attitude – Craig always demonstrated a positive attitude that was inspiring to others. And the “L” stands for leadership – she was good at influencing others to do the right thing, at the right time and for the right reasons.
Craig received the 2008 Hamilton County Hospitality Star Award in 2008 for her volunteerism at Corner Prairie. She was also given the 2009 Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s Hoosier Hospitality Award for excellence in hospitality.
Craig passed away August 19, 2009, after a five-year battle with breast cancer. She continued to spend significant time volunteering at Corner Prairie and Hamilton Heights Elementary School even while undergoing treatment for the cancer.
“She was loved and is greatly missed by all. I am so glad and proud to call her my sister,” says Campbell.
Her brother, Paul Stepp, says, “Her mission in life was to help as many people as possible by providing them the knowledge and skills they needed to be successful. Her positive attitude and caring manner was an inspiration to all those whose lives she touched. She was extremely successful in completing her mission in life.”
###
