F A C U L T Y
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Her Serendipitous Journey to Forman Dean of Students Annie Crawford If you asked Annie Crawford what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you a teacher. When she was in eighth grade, she was inspired by her teachers, who always celebrated her achievements and supported her during challenges. “I wanted to do that for others, too,” she says. Crawford studied English and literature at Fairfield University and graduated with a certificate to teach grades 7-12. Having called New Milford, CT home, she sought out local teaching jobs, but her search only turned up positions in history and math. She started selling cars at a local dealership before teaching for one year at the middle school she had attended and where her interest in teaching all started. Then, she began teaching at Forman School, to which she credits serendipity. “One day, a woman came in and bought a car from me and asked how I got into car sales. I told her that I was actually hoping to teach. She told me that her husband was the head of school at a school that turned out to be Forman,”
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Crawford says. “When her license plates came in, I offered to bring them to her and put them on her car. She brought me on a tour of the School and encouraged me to send in my resume. I did and later got an interview. The rest is history.” Crawford is now celebrating her 30th year at Forman. She started as a Language Training Teacher, which existed before the creation of the Cognition and Learning Department. She soon moved to the English Department, later becoming its Chair and a Class Dean, where she oversaw students and managed lower-level discipline situations. Since she started, she has also coached tennis, a sport she played competitively up until a few years ago. When promoted to Dean of Students, she continued teaching but realized she needed to give her new role all of her attention. Crawford oversees the Deans’ Office, which encourages students to be their best selves and uphold the School’s core values and Code of Conduct; offers resources and support to students experiencing situations that are not in line with community
