After nearly 43 years in education throughout Western New York and 16.5 years in West Seneca, Superintendent Dr. Mark J. Crawford has decided to resign his position as superintendent of the West Seneca Central School District for the purpose of retirement effective Friday, March 3, 2017.
“As you may know, I will have served the West Seneca Schools for six and one half years as superintendent and for nine years as the principal of Northwood Elementary,” Crawford said in a letter to the West Seneca Board of Education the evening of Monday, Nov. 14. “These two job assignments have provided me with the greatest happiness and satisfaction of any other assignments.”
Beginning in December, Crawford will have served as an educator for 43 years. His employment history includes working for Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Nardin Academy, the Diocese of Buffalo, Northwood Elementary School, Casey Middle School and D’Youville College. Crawford served as Superintendent of Schools for both Dryden and Hamburg Central School Districts before returning to West Seneca in 2010.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your gracious and kind support during my time as superintendent,” he said. “The simple answer for me is that it is just time to retire. I hope that I have contributed to the wellbeing and the effective education of West Seneca’s children during my tenure here.”
Crawford attended Canisius College in the mid- to late-1970s, earning his B.A. in History, New York State Teaching Certification (Social Studies 7-12, Permanent) and Master of Education. He furthered his education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, earning two New York State Certificates (School District Administration, School Administration & Supervision, both permanent) as well as his Doctorate in Educational Administration (Policy).
Outside of education, Crawford loves being involved in the local communities. He volunteered for the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation from 1986 to 2014 as well as the Girl Scouts of Buffalo & Erie County from 1986 to 1992. He previously was involved with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Town of Evans Zoning Board of Appeals, Arts in Education Institute of WNY, Rotary Club of Dryden, Rotary Club of Buffalo, and participated in the FBI Citizens Academy and West Seneca Police Citizen Police Academy. Currently, Crawford is a member of the Rotary Club of West Seneca, the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce and the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council.
