A Trailblazer Who Breaks Barriers And Records

The time Linda Kranick spent in Junior High has defined who she is today. It was then, at age 14, she met Art in Earth Science class, and the rich synthesis of the two great loves of her life began to merge. Art and Linda have now been married for 52 years, and have two Whippets, Rudy and Rose (who they’ve trained to use the doorbell when they want to go out). They both taught Junior High science at Saratoga Springs High School (just across the hall from one another), and have been coaching cross country together for 39 years.

“I was fortunate to find my best friend in my husband. We work well together,” said Linda. He is her biggest supporter; constantly boosting her confidence and encouraging her to face challenges. “Whenever there has been a challenge, or tough time, Art and I support each other – we’re a team.”

Nurturing Curiosity

Growing up, Linda’s parents treated her, her two sisters, and four brothers, equally. They never held her back, even when she decided to pursue a career in science at a time when women were not encouraged to enter the male-dominated field.

Although tests indicated Linda had the aptitude to become a mechanical engineer, her guidance counselor suggested she become a teacher or a nurse. “I was determined to do something more challenging than what she’d suggested, I was naturally curious and interested in science,” said Linda. Her interest was piqued by the teachings of Paul Tyner, her 7th grade Shalamot Central School science teacher. On his 85th birthday, Linda was finally able to share with him, much to his surprise, the extent of his influence on her.

Empowering The Underrepresented

At the time, there were so few women in science, that Linda received eight job offers after completing her Bachelors of Arts Degree at SUNY Brockport. Originally intending to enter the field of scientific research, Art encouraged her to reconsider.

“My husband said, ‘Just try it, I think you’ll like it’. I did and I loved it,” said Linda.

She taught both 7th and 8th grade science, 11 years of summer school biology, served cafeteria duty for 25 years, as the NYS United Saratoga Springs Teacher’s Association Secretary, and during the last five years of her 34-year career, was a lead educator in the Phoenix Program, Saratoga’s school within a school for at-risk youth.

Often pegged as disrespectful and disinterested, Linda instead found these students excelled in smaller classes taught by a core group of educators with a common philosophy and an integrative learning curriculum. “They were some of the brightest students I’ve taught. We saw something in these kids and brought it out in them,” she said.

The Science Behind The Sport

In September, Linda and Art will be celebrating their 50th anniversary as teachers and coaches. Since 1985, they have been making historic coaching contributions at Saratoga Springs High School. Utilizing their background in science, the Kranick’s methods are years ahead of the competition. Not only do they analyze performance charts, they discuss nutrition and look beyond the statistics, at the individual, in the present.

“At 12 years old, kids just want to be kids,” said Linda, so they load on the praise and rewards including trips, crepes, and have Watermelon Wednesdays and Smoothie Saturdays.

Amazing Racers

An immense power is unleashed when athletes with innate ability, at the peak of training, are encouraged with positive reinforcement. Their motivation is intrinsic, they push themselves to thrive under pressure, creating the physical and mental ability to dominate.

“Our secret is that we love what we’re doing,” said Linda. They also never cut a player from the team. “We try to include as many athletes as we can. Art can see things in kids they didn’t know was there.”

Under the Kranick’s guidance, the Blue Steaks improved rapidly. By 1987, the boys’ team was third at States and the girls won. Thirteen times since 1993, they ranked number one in the country.

“From then, on, the kids believed they were capable of doing great things, of looking further ahead, and higher up.”

The Kranicks have won Sectional, State, and National Coaches of the Year awards, and are members of the Coaches Hall of Fame. In addition, they coach the Saratoga Recreation Commission’s summer running program. Even as a national powerhouse, the team continues to participate in charitable races such as the Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, NY.

Even off the trail, Linda and Art’s runners excel.

“They have the discipline needed to focus on being a good runner and any athlete on a team learns to work together, which they go out and use later in the workforce. They are individuals with strong personalities who do what they think is right regardless of the crowd.”

After graduation, they send the Kranicks Christmas cards, photos, stories of how they’ve progressed, and of how their love of running has been inherited by the next generation. Linda and Art’s students have rewarded them with 44 weddings and a goddaughter, but also broken their hearts with a few funerals.

Their assistant coach, Dan VanCott, was born on Linda and Art’s first day teaching. Ray Harrington, who ran on their first boys’ team, and his wife, Joannie, remain so close to the couple that the Kranicks refer to their daughter, Siovhan, a Sophomore at Syracuse University, as their granddaughter.