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Carolyn Crowder, an elementary and vocal music teacher from Mustang, Okla., is serving in her second elected term on the National Education Association Executive Committee. She was first elected in July 2003 and was reelected in July 2006. The nine-member governing body oversees the work of the 3.2 million-member Association.
A native Oklahoman, Crowder has taught for 20 years in Oklahoma schools, 19 of which have been in Mustang. Her first year of teaching was as an artist-in-residence with the Oklahoma City Public Schools.
For six years, Crowder served as president of the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) leading the organization through some of its most difficult, but ultimately successful, times. During her tenure, the OEA fought for and won the largest compensation increases in state history for teachers and support professionals, including state-paid health benefits for all education employees. Crowder was also a driving force behind the creation and subsequent success of the Oklahoma Education Coalition, which includes every major player in the state’s education community.
In addition to her leadership role in the state Association, Crowder has been an active member of her local Association as well. There she served as president, delegate, and negotiator. The recipient of the OEA Political Activist Award in 1996, Crowder also is a former officer of Delta Kappa Gamma, and a 1999 graduate of Leadership Oklahoma. In 2003, she won the OEA Claude Dyer Award for leadership in education legislation.
Crowder grew up in the Oklahoma Panhandle, graduating from Guymon High School. She went on to graduate cum laude from Southern Nazarene University (formerly Bethany Nazarene College) and received a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Central Oklahoma (then Central State University).
Crowder's husband Terry is an instructional facilitator in Oklahoma City Public Schools. Her term on the NEA Executive Committee began on September 1, 2003. | 