our dream

Many children dream about what they would like to be when they grow into adulthood. At a young age I developed a love for fostering and adopting. I remember watching a television program in which adults, who were separated from their parents during childhood, were reunited with their biological parents. Seeing the beauty of the reunions and the impact it had on their lives moving forward touched my heart and planted a seed in me that would lend itself to my life’s purpose.

I’ve always had a passion for serving others. As I entered college and decided on my career path, I knew that I wanted to impact the world of education as a teacher in the high school sector. This is where my eyes were opened to learning about what children in the foster care system experience.

Presently, I now have over fifteen impactful years in education. I’ve worked with a variety of young adults, beginning in my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Similarly, I have worked with young adults across the nation - including Oakland, Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland and Atlanta. All of these experiences have landed me in Dallas, Texas where I serve as a school administrator. Within my various roles as an educator, I have developed life-long relationships with my scholars, pushing them throughout their high school careers and beyond.

During my years, while in the classroom, I encountered several young adults that were impacted by the foster system. Their experiences reminded me of my childhood dream and the need for positive mentors and advocates in the foster sector. In me, an idea was being dreamed up. It was important for me to align my desire to serve a community need and to cultivate the seed that was planted in me as a child. It was then that I decided I needed to do something great, and it had to be “Greater Than Expectations”!

Humbly,

Dr. Crystal R. Ward

Founder - Greater Than Expectations, Inc.