Signature: Phyllis C. Crawford

Phyllis Crawford has an eye for antique porcelain plates, eight-sided blue-and-white treasures she’ll sift through junk to find. Part of the fun, she says, is the element of surprise. “You never know what you’re going to find.”

It’s like that in her job, too. She crams 45 years worth of educational treasures into her small office. A laminated quote about persistence is taped to the wall. Stuffed Falcons (her school’s mascot) punctuate the paperwork on her cluttered desk, and mismatched upholstered chairs hug the walls. A trained eye recognizes the gifts from children: artwork, candles, photos—each with its own precious story.

One cluster of photographs is elaborately framed, a dead giveaway they’re special. In 1983 she was named Louisiana Teacher of the Year, which meant she got to meet President Ronald Reagan at the White House—where her tablemate at the luncheon was George Herbert Walker Bush. “He acted like he had all the time in the world for me,” she says.

Since then, Crawford has made it a point to celebrate others’ successes in style. Award-winning teachers at her school get a break from the cafeteria with a luncheon at the ritzy Camelot Club. Students with positive behavior win gift cards and iPods. Crawford enlists—and usually gets—support from local businesses. “If it’s for something positive,” she says, “people will help out.”

AGE: 65

HOMETOWN: Baton Rouge, La.

OCCUPATION: Principal of Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet

When she walked across the grass from Audubon Elementary to take over Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet, what she knew about middle school “could fit in a thimble,” Crawford says. But she quickly sized things up and made much-needed changes. “Common sense did more for reform than you can imagine.”

Reform began with new copying machines. An expensive behemoth, which was broken more often than not, was replaced with two smaller, functional ones. Students’ schedules were rearranged so they transition four times a day rather than eight. Lesson plans are kept in a central location. Small things, but in a school, this “junk” can really get in the way of quality teaching and learning.

In today’s climate of accountability, school administrators practically hold their breath waiting for LEAP scores to come in. Sherwood’s scores are some of the highest, yet when Crawford speaks of her school’s strengths, she doesn’t even mention that fact. She’s most proud of Best Buddies, a program connecting her magnet students to special education students based at Sherwood. Her performing arts teachers are the best. Her three National Board Certified teachers are commendable—“and there will be more,” she assures.

And close to 50 of her 7th graders were recognized by the Duke University Talent Identification Program both this year and last, just the latest gems at a school whose principal is all about finding treasure.

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