Over the past year Bowie has been under the leadership of an interim principal, now the district has finally announced its time line for naming a permanent one. This semester, interviews for the position will begin.

A schedule regarding the details of this process can be found on the Austin ISD and Bowie website. The entire process will be happening over the next few months.

However, some students and staff don’t think we even need a new principal because Susan Leos, who is currently filling the position, is sufficiently handling this job and working towards the school’s success.

Students value a caring and genuine personality. They value a principal who genuinely wants to improve the community involving Bowie rather than just doing the minimum of the job. Many people look for someone who can handle constructive criticism. It is important that this leader of the campus strives for the well-being of the school.

These qualities can be seen in Leos. Just this year, we saw a big push for students to have exceptional attendance. There were benefits rather than consequences to motivate students.

Although this was done by the administration as a whole, Leos’ was ultimately responsible for these changes. She wants the school to be successful but mainly, she and the administration want students to have the most learning opportunities possible. These steps were not just there to help improve the school’s reputation but to improve the students’ education.

Also, a current problem many high schoolers face is balancing mental health and success in school. Because of this, another important characteristic to look for in a principal is someone who tries to balance both. They need to understand that sometimes a student cannot truly do well if their mental health is not its best. It is clear that Leos cares for the well-being of Bowie students.

Leos works to make a better environment for all students. Unlike previous principals, she has been more directly involved. It is not uncommon to hear her make announcements on the intercom. It is also normal to see her walking around the school, having conversations with teachers and motivating students to be on time to classes. It’s clear that Leos is very involved and dedicated to Bowie’s success.

Not only is she good with students, but she also works well with teachers. For example, if there is a new teacher hired, she’s the first to offer assistance and welcome them. It is clear that she wants teachers to be comfortable and happy with their job.

It is not known whether Leos has tossed her name into the hiring pool for the new principal position, but if she has, The Lone Star Dispatch staff would be happy to see her as the permanent leader of this school.

We support her, and we think she would be an excellent leader that will be driven by both student success and needs, but also have the best interests of teachers and the community at heart with every decision.