A key spoke in the wheel that is the East Providence School Department will soon be leaving as Dr. Celeste Bowler recently announced her intention to retire from her position as assistant superintendent coinciding with the end of the 2023-24 term.

Bowler departs after eight-and-a-half years in the role. She was a finalist for the superintendent's job to replace Kim Mercer back in the fall of 2015, but lost out to Kathryn Crowley. The latter, however, shortly brought her on board as an assistant, joining now current superintendent Dr. Sandra Forand as one of Crowley's two lieutenants.

When Crowley, herself, stepped aside at the end of the 2021-22 term, Forand ascended to the superintendent's position with Bowler remaining as her top aide with former district principal Lindsey Reilly being added to the core central office administrative team as Director of Teaching & Learning.

Bowler's tenure will be remembered by most for a couple noteworthy aspects.

First and foremost, she took the lead in helping the district establish its Pre-Kindergarten program, becoming a leading voice on early learning matters here and throughout the area.

As well, she has been lauded for her grant-writing skills, which have helped the district gain access to ample amounts of state and federal aid.

"Celeste was responsible for establishing Pre-K in East Providence and is considered an authority in the state for Pre-K," Crowley said of her former colleague. "She was the impetus for organizing equity training in the district. She wrote the Comprehensive Resource Plan for East Providence, bringing in thousands of dollars for Title 1, 2, and 4.

"She evaluated the principals and was a certified Title IX officer who conducted our investigations in district with dignity and professionalism. She called herself 'a neutral fact finder.' She was part of a team that implemented our new math and ELA curriculum. She is a child centered administrator who is very much a team player. She will be missed. I'm honored to call her my friend."

A Rhode Island resident, Bowler came to East Providence after spending some five years as an assistant super in the Hamilton-Wenham district in Massachusetts. 

Forand issued the following statement to the community upon Bowler's departure: "I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Celeste Bowler for her commitment to the East Providence School Department over the last 8-and-a-half years. Her dedication and passion have left an indelible mark on our district, particularly in the areas of equity work, state Pre-K initiatives and securing federal grants to support teaching and learning.

"Dr. Bowler’s contributions have not only enriched our programs and initiatives but have also touched the lives of the children and families we serve in profound ways. We wish Dr. Bowler a happy, healthy retirement. She will be missed."

There's likely no one more directly affected by the news, nor anyone who has worked more closely with Bowler during her time in East Providence than Pre-K Principal Karen Rebello, who noted they both began their positions in earnest in the summer of 2016.

Rebello remembered her excitement upon being promoted to her new job from being a K-2 Special Education teacher, though understanding working with the "littles," as she calls her pupils, would come with a steep a learning curve. She was buffeted in the task by Bowler, whom she said "became my mentor" upon opening her first box of learning materials.

Rebello continued of Bowler, "She took me through the world of Pre-K that day, sharing stories, explaining the many things she had already set in place for the program to start in September. Things like who the staff were and what professional development they had or would be completing. Her passion for this program poured through her words and her first hand knowledge was more than any newbie could ever wish for. And the teaching never stopped."

Like the others, Rebello reiterated the community owes Bowler a debt of gratitude for her efforts during her time creating and overseeing the early learning curriculum in the city, saying the assistant super is the "reason for it all."

"The teachers, most of whom she hired, and I will be forever grateful for our first years of development under her guidance. Well wishes to our fearless leader and our friend," said Rebello said, adding a quote from the "great" Mr. Rogers, "'We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem. Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.' Thanks for being our hero Dr. Bowler."