Kelly Bowers, superintendent of schools for the Livermore Valley Unified School District, announced Friday that she is retiring after serving in the role for 12 years.
“I have been blessed to have had such a long and meaningful career with the Livermore Valley Unified School District and before that, the New Haven Unified School District,” Bowers said in an LVJUSD statement.
She added: “During my more than 34 years in public education, I have had the privilege of working with incredibly dedicated, talented and passionate colleagues and the daily interaction and relationships with students, families , staff, board trustees and community will surely miss members.”
The end of the 2021-22 academic year marks the end of Bowers’ time with LVJUSD as she said she was “graduating” with the class of 2022. District officials said succession planning was underway and the school board was aiming to appoint its replacement before the 2022-23 school year.
Bowers is the oldest continuously serving superintendent of schools in a unified district of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and the surrounding area. Appointed to the position in May 2010, Bowers served LVJUSD for 23 years in a variety of roles, including assistant superintendent of educational services, director of program and special projects, elementary and middle school principal, grant writer, and teacher. .
Throughout Bowers’ tenure with LVJUSD, she oversaw the implementation of numerous educational programs, including a TK-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) program emphasizing international-mindedness and global citizenship; a K-8 English/Spanish dual immersion program; Project TK-12 Lead the Way STEM education program; Green Engineering Academy high school; biotechnology engineering; visual and performing arts, and agricultural sciences.
In addition to academic programs, Bowers also identified and integrated programs that prioritized social and emotional learning and mental health, such as the “Choose Love” program founded by Scarlett Lewis whose 6-year-old son, Jesse , was killed in his first grade classroom during the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The program was created “to provide schools, families and communities with the tools to promote empowerment, resilience , connection and optimism,” according to the district’s website.
Bowers also oversaw the successful passage of two package taxes, bringing in more than $56 million in local revenue to expand STEM education districtwide, including most recently Measure A, which passed. in May following a special election by mail only.
Under Bowers’ leadership, LVJUSD has been recognized as one of the Bay Area’s Best Places to Work five times — the only public school district to receive this accolade, according to district officials.
“It really cannot be overstated how valuable competent and consistent leadership is to an organization. It creates a safe and trusting environment for those who work there and fosters trust in the shared vision and mission of those it Dr. Bowers has provided our District with all of these and more.His work ethic, drive for excellence, and commitment to students and staff have continued to elevate Livermore Schools throughout his tenure. It leaves a solid foundation for continued growth to build on,” Board of Education Chairman Craig Bueno said in a statement.
As a resident of Livermore, Bowers said serving as superintendent is not only her job, but also an act of service to her community.
“I value the Livermore community as more than my workplace. Livermore is my home, and I have always believed in contributing and supporting my community in any way possible. The success of our schools is intertwined to the health, safety, and prosperity of our community,” Bowers said, adding:
“Contributing to efforts against vaping and banning e-cigarette sales and coordinating COVID-19 vaccination clinics with partner agencies have been efforts to help protect not only our students, but our wider community.”
After retirement, Bowers’ future plans include mentoring others working towards advanced careers in education. She is currently the superintendent-in-residence for the Leaders for Equity & Democracy Education doctoral program at UC Berkeley – her alma mater – and she plans to pursue other opportunities that combine her passion for high-impact public and community service with his extensive leadership. experience, district officials said.
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