BOISE, ID – The Idaho Department of Education has released a statement following the death of former State Senator Carl Crabtree, who passed away in Boise after a battle with brain cancer. He was 68.

Crabtree represented Idaho’s District 7 in the Senate from 2016 to 2022 and joined the Department of Education in 2023 as the director of intergovernmental affairs. In that role, he worked closely with the Idaho Land Board and members of the state legislature.

Known for his commitment to education, Crabtree was a strong proponent of early literacy and full-day kindergarten. In 2022, he played a key role in the passage of House Bill 731, which mandated statewide screening for dyslexia and increased training for educators. That same year, the Idaho School Boards Association recognized him with its “Friend of Education” award.

Crabtree also supported higher education and was honored in 2023 by Lewis-Clark State College with the President’s Medallion award for his contributions to education and lifelong learning.

A longtime rancher from Grangeville, Crabtree was active in state and national cattle industry organizations. In 2007, he was named Trailblazer of the Year by Beef Magazine. He also served nearly 30 years as a University of Idaho extension agent, overseeing 4-H youth programs in his community.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield, who worked alongside Crabtree, described him as “a cowboy at heart” and “a fierce advocate for education,” adding, “Carl’s legacy will live on in the lives he changed.”

Crabtree had previously survived esophageal cancer, diagnosed in 2022, before his most recent illness. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.