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Kelly Bowers, superintendent of schools for the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD), announced Friday that she is retiring after serving 12 years in the role.
"I have been fortunate to have had such a long and meaningful career in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District and prior to that, the New Haven Unified School District," Bowers said in a statement from LVJUSD.
She added, "Throughout my 34+ years in public education, I have had the privilege of working with incredibly dedicated, talented, and passionate colleagues and will surely miss the daily interaction and relationships with students, families, staff, Board Trustees, and community members."
The conclusion of the 2021-22 academic year marks the end of Bowers' time with LVJUSD as she said she is "graduating" with the class of 2022. District officials said that succession planning is underway and the Board of Education aims to appoint her replacement ahead of the 2022-23 school year.
Bowers is the longest-serving continuously seated superintendent of schools of a unified district in Alameda and Contra Costa counties and the surrounding region. Appointed to the role in May 2010, Bowers has served LVJUSD for 23 years in a variety of roles, including assistant superintendent of educational services, director of curriculum 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) Programme emphasizing international mindedness and global citizenry; an English/Spanish K-8 dual immersion program; TK-12 Project Lead the Way STEM education program; high school Green Engineering Academy; biotech engineering; visual and performing arts, and agricultural science.
In addition to academic programs, Bowers also identified and integrated programs that prioritized social and emotional learning and mental health like the "Choose Love" curriculum 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 self-empowerment, resilience, connection, and optimism," according to the district website.
Bowers has also overseen the successful passage of two parcel taxes, bringing more than $56 million in local revenue to expand district wide STEM education including most recently Measure A, which passed in May following a special mail-only election.
Under Bowers' leadership, LVJUSD has been recognized five times as a Bay Area Top Workplace — the only public school district to receive that distinction, according to district officials.
"It really cannot be overstated how valuable competent, consistent leadership is to an organization. It creates a safe and trusted environment for those who work within it and promotes confidence in the shared vision and mission for those it serves. Dr. Bowers has provided our District with all of those elements and more. Her work ethic, drive for excellence, and commitment to students and staff has continued to elevate Livermore schools throughout her tenure. She leaves a solid foundation for ongoing growth to be built upon," said Board of Education president Craig Bueno.
As a Livermore resident, Bowers said serving as superintendent was not only her job but also an act of service to her community.
"I value the community of Livermore as more than just my workplace. Livermore is my home, and I’ve always believed in contributing and supporting my community in any way I can. The success of our schools is intertwined with the health, safety, and prosperity of our community," Bowers said, adding:
"Aiding in the efforts against vaping and the banning of e-cigarette sales and coordinating COVID-19 vaccination clinics with partner agencies were efforts to not only help protect our students, but our broader community."
Following retirement, Bowers' future plans include mentoring others who are working toward advanced careers in education. She is currently a 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 marry her passion for high-impact public and community service with her extensive leadership experience, district officials said.
