Published May 5th, 2026
BY DANIELA FOLEY
After serving as Carmel High School’s librarian for the past five years, Phil Crawford is set to retire after decades of pairing advocacy with education and library sciences on campuses ranging from San Francisco to Vermont.
“I love my job and everybody here, but I decided it’s time to move on and do something else,” says Crawford.
Crawford spent four years teaching English and three years in curriculum and instruction in San Francisco County before heading to Vermont to work as a library director for nine years, ultimately completing another five years of teaching in San Francisco prior to joining the Carmel High community.
For librarian Phil Crawford, retirement is an opportunity to maintain involvement in the community through volunteer work. photo by DANIELA FOLEY
“Coming to Carmel High School was a very positive experience,” says the librarian. “The students and staff were really friendly. I heard more pleases and thank yous from students in my first week in CHS than I did in the rest of my career.”
While at CHS, Crawford’s impact has been felt campus-wide. From being a part of the task force on sexual assault and sexual harassment and leading the first march on the CHS campus in protest against sexual assault to starting the Feminist Club and working with the Be Yourself Club and social justice advisory group to recently becoming an advisor for The Association of the Latin American Students Club, Crawford has committed himself to raising awareness and taking action on social justice issues, hoping to make change for future generations of students.
“Mr. Crawford helped build this club years ago, and now it is on us to maintain that legacy after he retires,” says junior Lily Phillips, president of the Feminist Club.
Crawford’s dedication to helping others is far from over. During his retirement, Crawford plans on volunteering at a food shelf as well as St. Angel’s Church in Pacific Grove. As a local growing up in Pacific Grove, with family initially arriving to the Monterey Peninsula in 1915, the activist remains committed to giving back to the community that raised him.
In preparation for Crawford’s departure, the district has begun vetting potential candidates to interview. After the formal panel-style interview process, the new hire will receive in-person training from the librarian, learning about vendors, budget and structure Crawford has become familiar with over the past five years.
“I’m continually impressed with the school’s programs, like the Advanced Placement curriculums that are just so high caliber and prepare students to move on,” says Crawford. “There are so many opportunities here that I don’t think you can find at any other school.”
