Kristine Lin

Athletic Director Jennifer Crane works in her office at Palo Alto High School, which she will be leaving after a decade of contributing to the athletic department. According to Crane, she is proud of her achievements and impact. “Looking back, I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” Crane said. “Walking around campus, I know I helped make improvements — whether it’s new gear, upgraded facilities, or a stronger team culture — [and] that’s been really meaningful. Paly Athletics has accomplished a lot these past few years and I’m just grateful to have been a part of it. I truly feel like I’m leaving the Paly Athletics Department in a stronger, more unified place than when I stepped into the role.”

After building a positive team culture and implementing substantial improvements for Palo Alto High School’s athletic department, Athletic Director Jennifer Crane will be leaving her three-year position to move to Fletcher Middle School.

Crane, who has been at Paly for over a decade, said she decided it was time to move to a new school in order to pursue a stronger work-life balance.

“Being an athletic director is kind of like an ‘all-duties, all-day’ situation [and] it never really stops,” Crane said. “While I’ve loved the experience and grown so much professionally and personally, I knew it was time for a new chapter. Next year, I’ll be joining the Fletcher Middle School P.E. Department as a P.E. Teacher. I’m really excited to get back into the classroom and start this new adventure.”

Looking back, Crane said she greatly enjoyed watching the student-athletes grow and persist.

“The best part has been the people — coaches, student-athletes, parents, staff. Getting to build relationships, work through challenges together and celebrate the wins has been incredibly rewarding,” Crane said. “The most memorable experiences for me are the day-to-day interactions: seeing a team come together after a tough loss, watching student-athletes grow over their four years, hearing a coach share a success story — it’s those small moments that really stick with me.”

According to Crane, being an athletic director has been a learning journey, teaching her new skills and valuable lessons.

“I was honored to be named ‘CCS AD [Athletic Director] Rookie of the Year’ by my peers, … which means a lot coming from others who understand how challenging and rewarding this job can be,” Crane said. “But beyond all that, what I’m most proud of is the leadership style I’ve developed. I’ve learned the importance of uplifting those around me — recognizing strengths, building trust and staying grounded. Being an AD has shown me how many people work behind the scenes to make things possible. It’s taught me that real leadership is about listening, valuing everyone’s role and creating a sense of team in everything you do.”

Crane said her biggest achievements in her position was boosting transparency and communication between all members of the athletic programs.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is the structure we’ve built,” Crane said. “We implemented systems to help align all of our programs and worked hard to increase transparency with everyone involved — coaches, student-athletes and families. That kind of clarity and communication makes a big difference.”

According to Crane, there has been a significant lasting impact of her efforts with increased positivity and connection between student-athletes.

“We’ve also made big strides in shaping a positive culture — one that emphasizes sportsmanship, collaboration and lifting each other up,” Crane said. “It’s been amazing to see how that mindset has taken root across our teams. … This coming school year, we’ll have 100 percent of our Varsity Head Coaches returning, which says a lot about the trust, stability, and positive culture we’ve built.”

According to Lauren Williams, president of Paly Sports Boosters, she admires Crane’s inspiring and considerate character.

“It has been an honor to work with Coach Crane over the past two years,” Williams said. “I will miss learning from her deep knowledge and experience in athletics, but most of all, I will miss her energy, her dedication to student-athletes, and her great sense of humor. She is a role model for many coaches and students, especially young women, who see in her a professional path they, too, can follow as a leader in athletics.”

During her tenure, Crane said she oversaw the implementation of several new programs, largely increasing access to opportunities and positively affecting the performance and well-being of student-athletes.

“We brought on a strength and conditioning coach — something we didn’t have before — which has helped raise the bar for our teams and given our student-athletes access to collegiate-level training,” Crane said. “We also introduced girls’ flag football to Paly, which was an exciting step in creating more athletic opportunities for female students.”

According to Head Athletic Trainer Justine Iongi, Crane was instrumental in introducing new programs.

“My experience with Coach Crane was an amazing one,” Iongi said. “She really shaped what the athletics program is today. … Coach Crane helped update the facilities and gave tools for the programs to help them grow. She spent many hours creating systems and procedures so athletics can be run seamlessly so the main focus would be on the students and highlight all their achievements. She has been an invaluable part of our athletics team and Paly community, working behind the scenes to make sure our programs are represented the best.”

Aside from organizing events such as the Spring Sports Fair and rebooting athletics support programs such as the parent-run Sports Boosters, Crane also played a large part in ensuring more resources were made available to student-athletes. The Athletic Director said that over the last three years, the department has gained several new equipment and facilities.

“We’ve had some awesome upgrades: new bleachers on the pool deck, netting out at Viking Stadium for soccer, a new LED score table and padded chairs in Peery Gym, bleachers in the wrestling room and improved storage options for teams to grow,” Crane said. “These might seem like little things, but they’ve had a real impact on the student-athlete experience. Additionally, this past year we’ve worked closely with the district to get approval to turf the softball field next season — something that’s long overdue and will be a huge win for our softball program.”

According to junior Caroline Williams, president of the Student Athlete Leadership Team club, Crane has continually demonstrated her support and dedication to level the playing field for all students.

“Coach Crane has always been a great person to work with,” Williams said. “She has been very supportive and encouraging in my transition into co-president of SALT. I will miss the passion that she has for trying to get equality across all sports.”

According to Assistant Athletic Director Fatima Giffen, Crane’s hands-on approach and go-getter attitude makes her stand out.

“I could go on and on about working with Ms. Crane as it was an awesome experience,” Giffen said. “She is the kind of person you want on your team—  organized, energetic, and professional. She doesn’t just talk about getting things done; she rolls up her sleeves and makes it happen. We worked exceptionally well together, and her positive energy was contagious. She has become a friend, and while she will be truly missed at Paly, I look forward to continuing our friendship beyond work.”

Iongi said the athletic director’s positive outlook will be missed.

“I wish her all the best for her next endeavor as she has been a joy to work with,” Iongi said. “We will miss her positive bubbly spirit and her great work ethic.”

Crane said she will cherish the memories she has made at Paly and is grateful for having such an enjoyable experience.

“Paly has been my second home for over a decade,” Crane said. “I know every corner of this place and I’ve made so many memories here. Starting fresh at a new site, where I don’t know anyone yet is definitely a little nerve-wracking, but I’m carrying everything I’ve learned and all the connections I’ve made at Paly with me. I’m so grateful for the support and community here and I hope to come back and visit.”