Former DeKalb County schools’ superintendent passes away

Dr. Crawford Lewis, a former superintendent of the DeKalb County School District, has passed away at the age of 68. Serving as superintendent from 2004 to 2010, Lewis spent 33 years with the DeKalb County School District, beginning in 1997 as a Physical Education teacher at Montgomery Elementary School.

As Superintendent, he oversaw 137 schools and centers comprised of more than 100,000 students in Georgia’s third-largest school district and one of the most culturally-diverse counties in the nation.

Lewis was viewed as a visionary, recognized for his leadership and commitment to education. He was honored nationally and locally. Among his accolades: DeKalb Schools Principal of the Year, recipient of the Milken Foundation’s National Education Award, NAACP Education Award, Outstanding Leadership by Leadership DeKalb and Who’s Who Guide to Atlanta’s Top Educational Leaders by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Dr. Lewis climbed the corporate ladder to become an assistant principal, principal, executive director and senior executive director.

His theme for “A premier DeKalb, the Blueprint for Success” was a strategic road map for engaging and mobilizing resources toward a common goal of excellence.

As the leader of the state’s third-largest school system, Lewis oversaw the end of the district’s controversial uniform policy, spearheaded a systemwide redistricting effort, expanded school choice programs and navigated budget and staff cutbacks during the Great Recession.