NEA Executive Committee Member Carolyn Crowder Visits Southwest UniServ Unit

Wednesday, April 26, 2006, NEA Executive Committee member Carolyn Crowder was the keynote speaker for Southwest UniServ Unit's Representative Asssembly. Carolyn (center) is pictured here with Barb Cunningham (at left), SWUU leader and Chair of the ISEA Retired Committee and me.

Carolyn Crowder, an elementary and vocal music teacher from Mustang, Okla., was elected to the National Education Association Executive Committee in July 2003. The nine-member governing body oversees the work of the 2.7 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 a social studies teacher at Emerson Alternative High School in Oklahoma City. Her term on the NEA Executive Committee began on September 1, 2003.


The "SWUU Crew", Marilyn Paul (left) our dynamic and dedicated UniServ Secretary; John Phillips (center) our quirky, fun-loving, hard-working UniServ Director; and Pat Shipley (right) our creative and talented UniServ Director; comprise this great team! Do I sound partial? I am! This is my 'home' UniServ Unit. They are the dedicated professionals that gave support to me as local leader and on into Unit leadership. They do what all our great UniServ Directors and Unit Secretaries do day in and day out, assist members and help guide others into leadership opportunities. Thanks, SWUU Crew!