Lexington, SC (05/12/2021) - Wednesday, Lexington County School District One Superintendent Greg Little, Ed.D, announced that C. Van Bowers, the district’s elementary schools director, plans to retire at the end of the academic year. Of Bowers’ retirement, Dr. Little says, “Not only has Van Bowers effectively served as the district’s elementary schools director, but he also led the district’s AdvancED/Strategic Planning process, the district’s Teacher of the Year program and served as a faculty member and principal coach in our Aspiring Principals Academy. He has dedicated 27 years to Lexington District One and will be missed.” Bowers, who has 33 years of public education experience, began his career as a physical education teacher in the School District of Oconee County’s Westminster Elementary School in 1988. In 1989, he moved to West-Oak High School as head baseball coach. He moved to the Georgetown County School District’s Andrews Primary School after being promoted to assistant principal in 1992. He joined Lexington District One’s Red Bank Elementary School as assistant principal in 1994, moved to Oak Grove Elementary School in 1999 as assistant principal, and was promoted to principal there in 2003.
During his tenure as principal at NPES and OGES, the South Carolina Department of Education recognized both schools with student achievement awards, including Exemplary ratings, Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for outstanding academic achievement, and Closing the Achievement Gap Awards for improved academic achievement among historically underachieving students. In addition, OGES and NPES received the Red Carpet Award for exceptional public relations.
Bowers’ interest in improving student achievement through data led him to the implementation of one of the district’s first Response to Intervention (RtI) models for improving achievement at OGES. Today, the district uses RtI district-wide to improve learning for struggling students.
In 2007, he became principal at New Providence Elementary School when it opened. While there, he was one of the first principals to begin a program using Applied Behavior Therapy for students with autism. He also established a high-performance learning culture which resulted in “Excellent” rankings by the state every year of his tenure.
In 2015, the district promoted him to his current position supporting 17 elementary school principals.
Bowers holds a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Erskine College and a Master of Education in educational administration from Clemson University. He also received specialized training as a principal supervisor and coach through The Leadership Academy.
He is a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, and the South Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
In planning for Bowers’ retirement, the district will immediately advertise the Elementary Schools Director opening.
