Diana Bowers: New Superintendent Takes Over at Hamilton Central Schools
On a bookshelf in the superintendent’s office at
Hamilton Central Schools, among the books and
family photos is a small plaque that reads, “Diana
Bowers, Head Learner.”
That was Diana Bowers’ title on her last job as an
elementary school principal in the lower Hudson
Valley. Teachers there were called “co-learners”,
and the school created a series of symbolic gestures
to stress that it was a “community of learners”.
Bowers’ secretary removed the nameplate from
the door of Bowers’ old office and sent it to her
here in Hamilton.
Now, that title is particularly appropriate these days
as HCS’s new superintendent is about two weeks
into her new job. It gets into high gear Sept. 5
when teachers return for two days of meetings and
moves into hyper-speed on Sept. 7 when classes
begin. On that day, expect to find Bowers not in
her office but in the hallways, cafeteria and
elsewhere meeting students.
Bowers was still unpacking recently when she took
time to talk about the upcoming school year, her
outlook on education, the role of technology in
schools, working with Colgate and her own learning
experience. She also commented on her first
impressions of Hamilton.
“Without exception, people talked about doing
what’s best for the children” said Bowers of her
various interactions with people in the process that
led to her hiring. She replaces Pete Backus, who
retired from HCS this spring after serving the
district for 15 years.
Most recently, Bowers served six years as principal
of the Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School in
Croton-Harmon in Westchester County. She said
that district was just like Hamilton on a large scale.
Her building in this commuter community about a
half hour north of New York City on the Metro
North rail line had between 700 and 800 students in
kindergarten through fifth grades, she said. Not
unlike Hamilton, Croton-Harmon has a strong
attachment to the arts. What makes it different is
that many of the parents in Croton-Harmon work
on Broadway.
“Our musicals were always terrific,” she said.
Hamilton will be the fourth school district in which
Bowers has served as an administrator. She began
as an assistant high school principal in Monroe-
Woodbury High School and then served as a high
school principal in Carmel High School.
Bowers said that ever since her first interview in
Hamilton, she has had the same impression: that this
is a very “child-centered” community and school.
“Without exception” she said. “People talked about
what’s best for the children. Children are at the top
of the list here.”
She said everyone in the school knows children by
name and by face and “children feel they belong.”
That was especially clear when she was interviewed
by two committees of students during the interview
process. She said the two panels, one of elementary
school students and one from the secondary grades,
asked questions about what is important to them.
With the first day of classes a bit more than 30 days
away, Bowers reviewed a short “to do” list of some
of her priorities for the school year ahead. These
include:
From that, said Bowers, she can formulate an action
plan.
One of those conversations she expects to start is
with the other major educational presence in the
community, Colgate. She thinks the university
already does much for the district, and she expects
to have many conversations about how the two can
continue to work together for the good of the
students.
Bowers will also have to deal with a project left to
her by the voters in the school district even before
she was hired: a large-scale renovation project.
Much of the work will be done during the summers,
she said, but there is no getting around the fact that
much work will be done when classes are in session.
Bowers likened it to “fixing the train as it’s in
motion.” She has experience in such things; the
elementary school of which she was most recently
principal built an addition and made renovations at
the same time.
But it is in the classrooms – especially those in the
elementary wing – where Barows believes the
district’s most important work is done. She said her
philosophy of education focuses on “foundational
strength in the early years. I believe we must
provide the best possible education for our little
ones.” That translates to strong literacy skills. She
said, “Everything builds on the ability to read and
write.”
Bowers educational philosophy has deep roots. Her
mother was a third grade teacher for many years
and today one of her three sisters is on the faculty
of Cornell University. Bowers herself spent 10
years in the classroom, teaching high school science
– earth science, biology and chemistry – before
transitioning into administration.
Earlier than that, she and her sisters each attended
a different Catholic school. Bowers said that she
remembers the first day of classes in those years,
and especially one in particular. Bowers said her
most memorable first day of a school year was
when she became a seventh grader at Our Lady of
Victory.
“I was entering a different stage of my educational
life,” said Bowers.
Ironically, her daughter Dana will be entering
seventh grade at HCS this fall, just as her mother is
entering yet another stage in her life as an
educator, as Hamilton’s “Head Learner”.
Posted 2006.8.1
Hamilton Central Schools, among the books and
family photos is a small plaque that reads, “Diana
Bowers, Head Learner.”
That was Diana Bowers’ title on her last job as an
elementary school principal in the lower Hudson
Valley. Teachers there were called “co-learners”,
and the school created a series of symbolic gestures
to stress that it was a “community of learners”.
Bowers’ secretary removed the nameplate from
the door of Bowers’ old office and sent it to her
here in Hamilton.
Now, that title is particularly appropriate these days
as HCS’s new superintendent is about two weeks
into her new job. It gets into high gear Sept. 5
when teachers return for two days of meetings and
moves into hyper-speed on Sept. 7 when classes
begin. On that day, expect to find Bowers not in
her office but in the hallways, cafeteria and
elsewhere meeting students.
Bowers was still unpacking recently when she took
time to talk about the upcoming school year, her
outlook on education, the role of technology in
schools, working with Colgate and her own learning
experience. She also commented on her first
impressions of Hamilton.
“Without exception, people talked about doing
what’s best for the children” said Bowers of her
various interactions with people in the process that
led to her hiring. She replaces Pete Backus, who
retired from HCS this spring after serving the
district for 15 years.
Most recently, Bowers served six years as principal
of the Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School in
Croton-Harmon in Westchester County. She said
that district was just like Hamilton on a large scale.
Her building in this commuter community about a
half hour north of New York City on the Metro
North rail line had between 700 and 800 students in
kindergarten through fifth grades, she said. Not
unlike Hamilton, Croton-Harmon has a strong
attachment to the arts. What makes it different is
that many of the parents in Croton-Harmon work
on Broadway.
“Our musicals were always terrific,” she said.
Hamilton will be the fourth school district in which
Bowers has served as an administrator. She began
as an assistant high school principal in Monroe-
Woodbury High School and then served as a high
school principal in Carmel High School.
Bowers said that ever since her first interview in
Hamilton, she has had the same impression: that this
is a very “child-centered” community and school.
“Without exception” she said. “People talked about
what’s best for the children. Children are at the top
of the list here.”
She said everyone in the school knows children by
name and by face and “children feel they belong.”
That was especially clear when she was interviewed
by two committees of students during the interview
process. She said the two panels, one of elementary
school students and one from the secondary grades,
asked questions about what is important to them.
With the first day of classes a bit more than 30 days
away, Bowers reviewed a short “to do” list of some
of her priorities for the school year ahead. These
include:
- Learn the personality of the district
- Learn the needs of the community
- Honor the fine practices of the past
- Identify areas of growth for both students
and faculty - And start many conversations.
From that, said Bowers, she can formulate an action
plan.
One of those conversations she expects to start is
with the other major educational presence in the
community, Colgate. She thinks the university
already does much for the district, and she expects
to have many conversations about how the two can
continue to work together for the good of the
students.
Bowers will also have to deal with a project left to
her by the voters in the school district even before
she was hired: a large-scale renovation project.
Much of the work will be done during the summers,
she said, but there is no getting around the fact that
much work will be done when classes are in session.
Bowers likened it to “fixing the train as it’s in
motion.” She has experience in such things; the
elementary school of which she was most recently
principal built an addition and made renovations at
the same time.
But it is in the classrooms – especially those in the
elementary wing – where Barows believes the
district’s most important work is done. She said her
philosophy of education focuses on “foundational
strength in the early years. I believe we must
provide the best possible education for our little
ones.” That translates to strong literacy skills. She
said, “Everything builds on the ability to read and
write.”
Bowers educational philosophy has deep roots. Her
mother was a third grade teacher for many years
and today one of her three sisters is on the faculty
of Cornell University. Bowers herself spent 10
years in the classroom, teaching high school science
– earth science, biology and chemistry – before
transitioning into administration.
Earlier than that, she and her sisters each attended
a different Catholic school. Bowers said that she
remembers the first day of classes in those years,
and especially one in particular. Bowers said her
most memorable first day of a school year was
when she became a seventh grader at Our Lady of
Victory.
“I was entering a different stage of my educational
life,” said Bowers.
Ironically, her daughter Dana will be entering
seventh grade at HCS this fall, just as her mother is
entering yet another stage in her life as an
educator, as Hamilton’s “Head Learner”.
Posted 2006.8.1
HCS Superintendent Diana Bowers
The Diana Bowers File
Education
Education
- Undergraduate SUNY Plattsburg
- Masters from Fordham University
- ABD Fordham University
- High school science teacher
- Assistant high school principal
- High school principal
- Elementary school principal
- Husband Dave
- Son Keller, first year student at Central
Connecticut State University - Daughter Dana, entering seventh grade at HCS
- Otto, French bulldog
- Biking
- She cooks while the rest of the family skis
- Second home in Schroon Lake
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
