Mrs. Sarah Kranz

Personal Statement:

I first came to LeTourneau in the fall of 1994 as a student. My original intent had been to attend another school, but God made it abundantly clear that His direction for me was not the way I was headed. By the end of the first year, I had fallen in love with LeTourneau University and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. In the years since, God has continued to interweave my path with the university, its students, and its faculty.

Background

Mrs. Kranz was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, as the third of four children. She moved to Longview, Texas, in 1994 to attend LeTourneau University. She met her husband, Mark, during the first year of school. They married in 1997 and have four children (Shayla, Tyler, Caleb, and Alyssa). The Kranz family is active at Mobberly Baptist Church, where Mrs. Kranz sings in the adult choir and is a teacher in the children's choir. The Kranz family enjoys spending time together and is currently building a house in Longview. From 1999 – 2004, Mrs. Kranz worked on a contract basis for a local psychologist doing counseling and testing. The testing included both neurological and state disability testing. Since 2005, the Kranz family has owned a local children's store. Mrs. Kranz’ greatest accomplishment and greatest joy has been the privilege of staying home with the family’s four children until coming back to LeTourneau as an adjunct in the fall of 2007. 

Research Interests: Dissertation Topic

Mrs. Kranz grew up in a family or origin with both “gifted” and “special needs” children (a brother with ADHD). The same situation exists within her current family, as she has a “ gifted” son and a daughter who receives special education services for learning disabilities from the school she attends. This situation creates a unique set of challenges for parents who have children at both extremes, both in terms of parenting techniques and preserving the self-esteem of the children involved. Mrs. Kranz is working to document parenting techniques unique to families such as this, as well as compile a list of self-esteem issues (and solutions) that face the children.

Education

• Ph.D. in progress, Expected Spring 2013, Northcentral University, Psychology
• M.S., 1999, University of Texas at Tyler, Clinical Psychology
• B.S., 1997, LeTourneau University, Psychology

Community Involvement

• Mobberly Baptist Church and church choir
• Owner, local children’s store
• Member and past Vice President of Longview Mother’s League (an organization dedicated to helping mothers and children)