Beloved veteran Seattle teacher and civil rights activist Sara Kaplan grew up in Pearsall, Texas.  As the only Jewish child in her county, her parents drove her 50-plus miles to attend Sunday School each week at San Antonio's Reform Congregation.  Sara graduated from high school as the newspaper editor, a champion debater, class president, and valedictorian.  She later earned a B.A. in political science at the University of Texas, an M.A. in economics from Columbia University, and her teaching certificate.  In 1950 Sara married Seymour Kaplan.  They raised two children, and for 25 years, Sara taught social studies and debate at Rainier Beach and Franklin High Schools.  Active in Democratic Party politics since high school, Sara has spent her life fighting for social justice.  She has served as president of B‘Nai B'rith Women, vice president of Brandeis University National Women's Committee, on the board of the Anti-Defamation League, and as an active member of the NAACP and Seattle Urban League.  In 1995 the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle recognized her efforts, establishing the Sara Kaplan Award for Outstanding Community Service in her honor.