By Philip Navarrette/Staff Writer
When Karen Crow, principal at Joshua’s Elder Elementary, was chosen as the NFL Teacher of the Year, she couldn’t believe it. But now that she’s returned from her trip to Hawaii and this year’s Pro Bowl, the experience was a dream come true, she said.
“It was the trip of a lifetime,” she said. “It was just amazing.”
Crow’s trip came as a result of a letter submitted by fifth-grader Devan Monsour to the NFL’s Teacher of the Year contest. After narrowing down thousands of entries from across the county, Monsour’s letter about Crow ranked at the top and she was given her title in January.
Along with the win, the NFL awarded a $5,000 check to Elder Elementary and gave Crow tickets to the Pro Bowl so she could be recognized during the game.
Crow took a week off of work to enjoy the trip, and everything was organized by the NFL, Crow said.
“The NFL had just paid attention to every detail, from the flight, the rental car, the hotel, to the activities, everything,” she said.
One of the memorable activities involved attending a Hawaiian luau.
“All the players were there,” Crow said. “Me and my son sat across the table from [Dallas Cowboys quarterback] Tony Romo. We were just sitting there star-struck.”
Crow didn’t want to interrupt Romo’s meal by asking for pictures or autographs, but that didn’t stop others, Crow said.
Later, Romo’s agent talked to Crow and said he admired that she and her family didn’t rush the quarterback begging for an autograph.
“I think he noticed that my boys didn’t interrupt [Romo],” she said. “So the guy goes, ‘If you e-mail me, we’ll be sure your boys get an autograph.’”
On the day of the Pro Bowl, Crow and her sons were allowed to be on the field for the pre-game ceremonies.
“That was amazing for my kids to get to be there, because as the players were introduced and came out, they were just inches away from them,” she said. “My kids were just in awe over that.”
The game was the first NFL game Crow and her family had been to.
“Of course, we watch it at home on TV, but to actually be at the game and getting caught up in all of that was just wonderful,” she said.
In addition to the game, Crow made trips down famous Hawaiian beaches, and saw a surfing competition.
“Hundreds of people were all over the beach,” she said. “They were actually having guys out in those humongous waves. They looked like two-story waves to me.”
Crow also bought Pro Bowl souvenirs for Monsour. But the tokens are only a small portion of the thanks he deserves, she said.
“I’ll never have the means to feel in my mind that I’ve appropriately thanked somebody for such a tremendous thing that was given to my family,” she said. “It couldn’t have been more perfect.”
Philip Navarrette can be reached at 817-645-2441, ext. 2337, or reporter@trcle.com.
