Norwalk Acts Presents Visionary Award to Lifelong Educator

Dr. Saloma (Sally) B. Grose recognized for her visionary work in support of Norwalk children

Norwalk ACTS is proud to present the first annual Visionary Award to Dr. Saloma (Sally) B. Grose in honor of her "Courage, Tenacity and Vision in support of all of Norwalk's Children."

Dr. Grose has dedicated her time, talents and resources toward making a positive and sustained impact in the lives of Norwalk's children, according to Anthony Allison, Norwalk ACTS Executive Director, who presented the award at last week’s Community Convening.

A Norwalk resident for nearly 35 years, Dr. Grose has enjoyed a rewarding career as an educator, earning her Doctor of Education (Ed.D) from Teachers College Columbia University, becoming a teacher of middle school and high school in the Westport School District and later, a principal at Hills Point Elementary School. During that time, she took three sabbaticals, one of which was spent teaching in China.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Grose has served on countless boards of organizations focused on strengthening the community's families and children, including the Norwalk Children's Foundation, the Norwalk Early Childhood Council, Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now Inc. and was a member of NAACP. She also created an Executive Council to support Norwalk’s Briggs High School and worked to develop the education component of Norwalk Grassroots Tennis.

“I remember one day in the winter of 2012, Sally came to a Norwalk ACTS meeting with an article about Collective Impact, a methodology focused on solving social problems by aligning community resources around a common agenda and measurements in order to improve specific community level outcomes. Sally looked at all of us all and said “I think you might find this article interesting and the ideas doable.’ It was the impetus that we needed to propel Norwalk ACTS forward,” noted Allison.

“Receiving this award is very touching. I appreciate that people feel that this work is valuable and have stuck with it for so long. I am so proud of everyone that I worked with,” notes Dr. Grose.

Today, Norwalk ACTS is one of 70 partner organizations in the national StriveTogether network, bringing together more than 100 civic leaders and organizations, taking collective action to enrich and improve the lives and futures of all Norwalk children from cradle to career.