RISE UP:
One UNITED Voice

About Kara

Kara Sawyer is currently a Special Education Teacher for the Guthrie Public School District and works with the Severe and Profound Multiple Disabilities population.  She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education and holds a dual certification for both Mild/Moderate and Severe/Profound disabilities.  Sawyer was chosen as the first college graduate to participate in the George Nigh Foundation for Academic Excellence to represent Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2001.  In 2016, Sawyer was named the Teacher of the Year for the Guthrie Public School District.  She went on to represent Guthrie Public Schools in the State Teacher of the Year finals and was also recognized by the NBA’s Oklahoma Thunder as a Teacher of the Game.

During the early years of her career, Sawyer became involved in outreach and advocacy groups for Logan County thus expanding her dedication and service to the communities within the county.  Sawyer spent two years working for Sooner SUCCESS of Logan County as the County Coordinator providing resources and education to families with children that have a disability.  Later, Sawyer became involved in implementing a new program to Logan County through the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and was named the Executive Director for the Systems of Care program. 

Continuing her path of community involvement, she has served on several Board of Directors. Most notably included Logan County American Red Cross where she would eventually serve as the Executive Director and later the Regional Executive Director for Logan, Pottawatomie and Comanche Counties.

During the past 17 years, Mrs. Sawyer has immersed herself in the very community she calls home and has made it her mission to become a resource provider and advocate for ALL in her community.  Her outreach has expanded to serving on the Logan County United Way Board, Logan Community Services Board and work with the God’s Food Bank to name a few.  Recently, Sawyer was commissioned to serve on the newly created ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Advisory Council through the Guthrie City Council and was elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing term.

In the spring of 2018, Sawyer became a certified trainer for the National Youth Mental Health First Aid program.  She completed 40 hours of coursework in order that she may now return to her communities in Logan County and all throughout the state of Oklahoma to train community members, educators, parents and families on how to be better prepared for mental health issues and crises for youth and their families.  Mental health issues affect 1 in 5 people in Oklahoma and knows no barriers to those it will affect.  The increasing demand for responding to a mental health crisis has prompted a need for more first aid responders.  Sawyer is passionate about mental health concerns for her community and wants to do her part to be a changing force for advocacy and support for all those affected.

A native of Oklahoma, Kara Sawyer was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Bixby High School in 1996.  Her work in philanthropic organizations began early in her life when she was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and was elected to serve as Grand Worthy Advisor for the State of Oklahoma in 1998-99.

Sawyer is married to her wife, Barbara and together they are raising her daughter.  Their family is active members of the Presbyterian Church.  She enjoys her time volunteering, supporting, and promoting a wide variety of organizations within the community as well as participating in the year round events that Guthrie and Logan County have to offer.