Robert W. “Bob” Fowls, head of school at Trinity Lutheran School, Bend, Ore., is among 65 who have been named “2003 National Distinguished Principals” by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School principals.
He and the others received the award during a Nov. 7 ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Since the award was established in 1984, 20 principals or heads of schools in the Synod have received it.
Fowls, head of school at Bend since 1999, previously taught and held other positions at Lutheran schools in Texas, Michigan and Idaho.
A 1974 graduate of Concordia University, River Forest, Ill., he earned a Master of Arts (Educational Administration) in 1979 from Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Mich.
The printed program for the Nov. 7 ceremony says that when Fowls came to Bend, the school’s enrollment was down, it had a six-figure deficit, and staff morale and parent support were low.
“Under Fowls’ leadership,” it says, “the PreK-8 school has been given new life.”
“I must credit staff and parents with [the] transformation that I was privileged to lead,” Fowls said.
Fowls currently is vice chairman of the LCMS Northwest District Administrators Conference and is a district consultant for accreditation, serves as a mentor for LCMS District and Congregational Service_School Ministry’s School Leadership Development program, and is a “partner” in Worker Benefit Plans’ Financial Education Program.
January 2004
