{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDr. Barbara J. Conwell Crawford is the Democratic Party nominee for Sumner County School Board District 5, facing Republican incumbent Steven J. King on the August 6, 2026 ballot [1]. Her stated priorities are adequate funding for programs and resources, higher educator salaries, a focus on social and emotional learning, greater community engagement, and increased transparency and trust [2].\n\n## Background and education\nCrawford is a retired educator and pastor who lives in Goodlettsville [2]. She holds a B.S. in elementary education from Tennessee State University, an M.S. in reading from Middle Tennessee State University, a Doctor of Education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University [2].\n\n## Career\nCrawford served 37 years in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School System as a teacher, reading specialist, and principal [2]. As principal of Wharton Middle School she established Nashville's first middle-school arts magnet program (Creswell Arts Magnet), and she began her teaching career as \"one of the first African-American teachers assigned to a previously all-White school\" [2]. Her honors include the National Council of Christians and Jews Brotherhood-Sisterhood Educator of the Year Award and the Frist Principal Award [2].\n\n## Family\nCrawford is married to James; they have two sons and three grandchildren [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Federal and State Primary, State Judicial and Sumner County General Elections Sample Ballot](https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/884379eec0cf6e5fb6f5678acff70a3783bde79d.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Barbara Crawford for School Board \u2014 campaign site](https://barbaracrawfordforschoolboard.com) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_5","county":"Sumner","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"School Board Member District 5"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"BARBARA","fullname":"BARBARA CONWELL CRAWFORD","lastname":"CRAWFORD","middlename":"CONWELL","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_5","contest_title":"School Board Member District 5","county":"Sumner","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_school_board_district_5","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_5","contest_title":"School Board Member District 5","county":"Sumner","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_school_board_district_5","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_district_5","office_title":"School Board Member District 5","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic nominee for School Board District 5; retired 37-year Metro Nashville educator and principal with a Vanderbilt doctorate.","terms":[],"token":"f1V1nnzppD"}