Board Honors Character-Education Supporter Jack Bowen, Accepts Grant

On March 12, 2009, the HISD Board of Education honored J. W. "Jack" Bowen, a major force in HISD's nationally acclaimed character-education program, for his long-standing contributions to Houston's young people. The trustees also accepted a $95,000 donation from him and Rebuilding Houston Together that supports HISD's character-education and student-leadership programs.

Jack Bowen, who helped create the district’s character-education program in 1989, presents a check for $95,000 to (L–R): HISD Character Education Project Coordinator June Giddings, Character Education Program Manager Karen Washington, and Assistant Superintendent of School Support Services Martha Salazar-Zamora on March 12, 2009.

The former CEO and board chairman of Transco Energy Company, Bowen raised $2 million to launch HISD's character-education program in 1989 and has provided guidance and resources for the project ever since. He firmly believes that character education is vital to teaching and learning because it increases academic achievement, raises attendance rates, lowers dropout rates, decreases the number of disciplinary problems, and prepares students to be good citizens and valued employees.

“Teaching is the greatest of all the professions in America,” Bowen said, “and right at the top of the list is teaching how to live the right kind of life. Then you can go on to reading, writing, and arithmetic. Educating the people who are going to take our place is the most important thing we do in education, because the future of our country depends on it.”

“I join trustee Dianne Johnson in thanking Jack Bowen for his help in making character education an integral part of HISD's educational efforts,” said Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra.

“It's a really important component in the development of our students,” Johnson said.