Meet Hilliard School Board Candidate
Kara Crowley

Hi, I’m Kara Crowley and I am running for the Hilliard Board of Education (HBOE). As a teacher and mother, I believe that a great school system is the backbone of a great community. Having great schools can draw in families and businesses that want to live and work in an area that is thriving. We need an educator’s voice on the board, and I would be honored to serve on the HBOE, to create educational opportunities and a world-class education for every student in the district, and to cultivate strong relationships between our schools and our communities.

I grew up in a small town outside of Akron, Ohio and attended a High School where I served as Class President for 4 years and was voted Most Likely to be President. It was in High School that I discovered my love of serving, leadership and civic responsibility.

In 2001, I moved to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University (OSU) as a Political Science Major to continue pursuing my passion for service.  However, during a trip around the globe, I discovered a new passion of mine- working with children. During that trip, every country I visited allowed for unique opportunities to work with children in orphanages, various school settings and classrooms and through community based programs like Operation Hunger. When I returned to Ohio State from my travels, I changed my major to education.

For the last 14 years, I have worked as a teacher in a Title 1 school in Southwestern City Schools. I have taught many different grade levels but am currently teaching kindergarten. My educational career has been full of wonderful awards such as being the 2014 COSI Science Teacher of the Year and The 2020 SWCS Outstanding Educator of the Year but the highlights of my career have always been about my students. 

At my school, I was able to create a Robotics Program that ran strong for over 8 years and provided me the opportunity to speak at the local, state and national level. I was also able to create a Gentleman's group that brought incredible mentorship and field trip opportunities to at-risk boys in 3rd and 4th grade.

My beautifully diverse classroom is an open and loving place that is filled with both academic and cultural learning opportunities.It is a place that welcomes all students as they are and supports their growth not just for the time they are in my classroom but forever. I love checking in with former students and seeing the amazing things they are doing. It brings my heart so much joy!

I also love to stay up to date on all the latest curriculum and learning practices. Throughout my career, I have continued my education at OSU by taking classes during the school year and in the summer, attending professional development opportunities in my district and other surrounding districts, attending workshops at The Teachers College at Columbia University and serving on The Ohio Department of Education committee to revise the state science standards and best practices. I have also had many fun educational experiences outside of the classroom like digging up dinosaur bones through The Dig School, learning archery through The Wilderness School and researching sharks in Australia through The National Science Foundation.

I am currently married to a High School teacher in Columbus City Schools and we have two beautiful children that attend Hilliard City Schools. My husband, who is a graduate of Hilliard was adamant that we raise our children in this incredible district. We greatly value education in our family and see every opportunity for a chance to learn.  In my spare time, I love to spend time with my family, walk our dog Petey, backpack, hike, travel, organize, listen to Taylor Swift, exercise, and spend time with friends!