Fowler: Teaching was in my DNA
BY GREGG L. PARKER
Dr. Dee Fowler intuitively knew that education was his career path. He now leads the Madison school district with approximately 9,000 students.
Fowler
“Teaching was in my DNA. I was born with ‘chalk in my blood,'” Fowler said. His mother, sister, grandfather and other relatives were teachers. Growing up, he “resisted the call” but school visits during college convinced him that the classroom was where he needed to be.
Since Madison established its separate school system, Fowler has served as director of administration, operations and personnel; assistant superintendent; and as superintendent since 2007.
Tuscumbia is his hometown. He graduated from Deshler High School. Fowler first taught and coached at Hazel Green High School.
Then, he was assistant principal at Madison County High School and principal at Walnut Grove School, West Madison Elementary School and Liberty Middle School (when Liberty’s population exceeded 1,500 students).
Fowler works “to ensure where a child goes to school does not predict the quality of their education or future.” In 14 years, the Madison district has been rezoned four times. “As rezoning occurs, our practice is to repopulate our schools based on balancing the socio-economics of the school zone,” he said about preventing discrepancies that produce “have” and “have not” schools.
“Balancing the capital dollar and arranging debt in a manageable fashion have been a challenge. Finding a place to adequately house the students is only one piece of the growth puzzle,” Fowler said. “Planning for sufficient funds to provide staff is another challenge.”
Madison City Schools was ranked 84th in the state’s 132 school districts (Mobile County was 72nd) in money spent per student, Fowler said.
Fowler led “the district in our darkest hour” — the fatal shooting of Todd Brown at Discovery Middle School in 2010. “The loss of human life, especially a youngster, created the saddest and bleakest of any situations,” he said. After counseling for school populations and safety introspection, Fowler believes “public confidence remains in our district’s ability to offer a safe school environment and a world-class education.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree at Lipscomb University, master’s degree at George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, AA Certification at Alabama A&M University and his doctorate degree at the University of Alabama.
He is married to Marcia Fowler, who volunteers for Madison Hospital, Madison Arts Council, Asbury United Methodist Church and other organizations. She works part time at West Madison.
James Fowler, their son, graduated in August from the University of Alabama and now works for an international shipping company based in Mobile. His work location is north of New Orleans.
If time permits, golf is Dee Fowler’s hobby, and he likes lazy days when he can read and search for new grilling recipes. “Marcia enjoys day trips and movies. I usually put up a fuss but always enjoy them when I accompany her.”
