Dr. John L. Crew Sr.

DR. JOHN L. CREW, SR., entered this life on November 2, 1926 in West Minister, South Carolina to the late John and Lula Crew. His father was a carpenter and farmer, his mother a homemaker. After a lengthy illness, he made a peaceful transition to Glory on Saturday, November 19, 2011. His formal schooling began in West Minister, South Carolina. After graduating from East End High School, he enlisted in the Navy and served with the Combat Seabees in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, a commissioned second lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry and a Colonel in the Adjutant General Corps in the United States Army Reserve. In 1980, he received both the distinguished service award and the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Secretary of the Army from which he retired in 1981. John enjoyed sharing war stories; he had unforgettable moments while serving which impacted his life forever. As a young boy, John was encouraged to excel in education by both his parents. He gives them credit for instilling in him the concept of “Achievement Motivation.” He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from what is now Morgan State University in 1952. He graduated from New York University in 1955 with a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Psychology and in 1968 he was the first black to receive a Ph.D. in Education Research and Design, Measurement and Statistics from University of Maryland, College Park. John served the Baltimore City School System in many capacities and became a pillar of change and excellence for urban education. He has been noted for having “restored a sense of calm and normalcy to a system after it had gone through a traumatic crisis.” He began his career with BCPS as an educational psychologist. He left a decade later to become Supervisor of Research and Evaluation for the Maryland State Department of Education and later a teacher at West Chester Sate College in West Chester, PA. He returned to Baltimore City Schools in 1969, when he was appointed director of special services for pupils. He was later appointed deputy head for planning, research and evaluation where he served as the architect of the 1974 and 1975 desegregation plans. In 1976, he was promoted to Superintendant of Public instruction. He was absolutely dedicated to best educated. He accomplishments as superintendent include, raising test scores to national levels, expanding special education programs, restoring City College and turning it into a citywide, coeducational Liberal arts school in 1977, and one of The School of the Arts. John was also a published author who co-wrote the book, Effective Public Education: The Baltimore Story. He retired from the school system in 1982.

Tributes

Dr. John L. Crew Sr.

November 2, 1926 - November 19, 2011