Edna Claunch

Edna Claunch fell in love with Highland Park when she moved to Rochester in 1967. Her career in education began in 1961 when she earned her B.A. with a double major in English/Speech and a minor in Secondary Education from Harding University. After teaching English and Speech, directing drama productions and coaching debate in Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New York, she earned her Master’s degree and Doctorate from the University of Rochester in 1974. She spent the last 21 ½ years of her 38 years in education with the Gates Chili CSD as the Associate Superintendent for Instruction. She served on the boards of the Monroe County Human Relations Commission, Roberts Wesleyan College Community Orchestra, the Hochstein Music School, the Society for Chamber Music in Rochester--Chairman Emeritus, the Hamamatsu/Rochester Sister Cities, the Rochester Garden Club. The Garden Club of America honored Edna in 2014 with its National Montague Metal for Civic Achievement. The honor cited her leadership as Project Leader both for Rochester’s Exhibit at Pacific Flora 2004 in Hamamatsu, Japan  and for the Iris Friendship Garden in Highland Park dedicated in 2004. Edna has served on the Board of the Highland Park Conservancy since 2014 and currently serves as Co-chair of the Fund Raising Strategy Committee. She has been Vice-President of the Highland Park Conservancy since 2017.