VICE PRESIDENT CRYSTAL BARTON
President Barton attended the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a graduate of Niagara University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education, a Post Master’s Professional Diploma in Counseling Education and a Certificate of Specialization in Minority Group Studies. She was one of the first African American females to enlist in the ROTC at Niagara University and received an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
President Barton’s professional education career spans from grades kindergarten through twelve as a Teacher and Counselor and grades four to twelve as an Assistant Principal and Principal. Currently and for the past twenty seven years, she has been the Principal of McKinley Comprehensive High School. A pioneer in education, she was appointed as Principal in 1987 and is the first female to be appointed as a Principal of a Career and Technical School in Buffalo Public Schools' then one hundred and forty nine year history.
In addition to her years as an educator, Principal Barton has been employed as the Director for the Summer Institute of Math and Science at Buffalo State College, the Director of Youth Services at Niagara Community Action Organization, a Nurse, and as a Counselor for the Buffalo Urban League.
She was a People To People International Ambassador to South Africa in 2003, a program established by the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to promote friendship, cultural sharing and education throughout the world.
President Barton started her service to her Union immediately after being employed as an Assistant Principal in 1984. She is a Past President and Vice President of the Secondary Assistant Principals’ Association, President and Vice President of the Secondary Principals’ Association, a former Vice President of the Buffalo Council of Supervisors and Administrators, AFL-CIO Local 10 and since 2005 serves as President. She was the first African American and female to be elected to this office. She is also a Vice President of the American Federation of School Administrators and the President of the New York State Federation of School Administrators and has served since 2005.
A former “Black America Queen of Buffalo,” "Miss Black Beauty" and "Miss Niagara Observer" of Niagara Falls, the contributions President Barton has made to her community and to help individuals has been recognized through the awards she has received throughout the years. Among these awards are: the Buffalo Branch NAACP, "Daniel Acker Community Service Award," both the Niagara County and Erie County "Black Achiever Awards," the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Erie County Chapter; "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Outstanding Community Service in Education"; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Theta Sigma Chapter, "Distinguished Educator Award"; the United States Army "Public Service Award"; The Niagara Improvement Association, "Distinguished Educator Award"; The Afro Historical Association, "William Wells Brown Award"; The St. Phillips Community Center "Women Builders of Communities and Dreams Award"; The "Women In Industry Award In Education" from The Honorable Antoine Thompson; The "Minnie Gillette/Joan Bozer Award In Education For Empowering Women; "The Career & Technical Educators Guild of Buffalo, New York Award" for Dedication and Service to Career & Technical Education; The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc., "Education Award"; and The African Methodist Ministers Alliance, "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Education Award." President Barton was also the first administrator to receive “The Apple For The Teacher Award” from Iota Theta Lambda Sorority Inc., Beta Phi Chapter.
President Barton attended the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a graduate of Niagara University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education, a Post Master’s Professional Diploma in Counseling Education and a Certificate of Specialization in Minority Group Studies. She was one of the first African American females to enlist in the ROTC at Niagara University and received an honorable discharge from the United States Army.
President Barton’s professional education career spans from grades kindergarten through twelve as a Teacher and Counselor and grades four to twelve as an Assistant Principal and Principal. Currently and for the past twenty seven years, she has been the Principal of McKinley Comprehensive High School. A pioneer in education, she was appointed as Principal in 1987 and is the first female to be appointed as a Principal of a Career and Technical School in Buffalo Public Schools' then one hundred and forty nine year history.
In addition to her years as an educator, Principal Barton has been employed as the Director for the Summer Institute of Math and Science at Buffalo State College, the Director of Youth Services at Niagara Community Action Organization, a Nurse, and as a Counselor for the Buffalo Urban League.
She was a People To People International Ambassador to South Africa in 2003, a program established by the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to promote friendship, cultural sharing and education throughout the world.
President Barton started her service to her Union immediately after being employed as an Assistant Principal in 1984. She is a Past President and Vice President of the Secondary Assistant Principals’ Association, President and Vice President of the Secondary Principals’ Association, a former Vice President of the Buffalo Council of Supervisors and Administrators, AFL-CIO Local 10 and since 2005 serves as President. She was the first African American and female to be elected to this office. She is also a Vice President of the American Federation of School Administrators and the President of the New York State Federation of School Administrators and has served since 2005.
A former “Black America Queen of Buffalo,” "Miss Black Beauty" and "Miss Niagara Observer" of Niagara Falls, the contributions President Barton has made to her community and to help individuals has been recognized through the awards she has received throughout the years. Among these awards are: the Buffalo Branch NAACP, "Daniel Acker Community Service Award," both the Niagara County and Erie County "Black Achiever Awards," the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Erie County Chapter; "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Outstanding Community Service in Education"; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Theta Sigma Chapter, "Distinguished Educator Award"; the United States Army "Public Service Award"; The Niagara Improvement Association, "Distinguished Educator Award"; The Afro Historical Association, "William Wells Brown Award"; The St. Phillips Community Center "Women Builders of Communities and Dreams Award"; The "Women In Industry Award In Education" from The Honorable Antoine Thompson; The "Minnie Gillette/Joan Bozer Award In Education For Empowering Women; "The Career & Technical Educators Guild of Buffalo, New York Award" for Dedication and Service to Career & Technical Education; The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc., "Education Award"; and The African Methodist Ministers Alliance, "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Education Award." President Barton was also the first administrator to receive “The Apple For The Teacher Award” from Iota Theta Lambda Sorority Inc., Beta Phi Chapter.