Governing Board Selects Mike Fowler as Assistant Superintendent, Education Services

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May 16, 2022
 

Governing Board Selects Mike Fowler as Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
Granite Hills Principal will oversee all aspects of GUHSD’s educational program
 

EL CAJON – The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Governing Board (Board) has named Mr. Mike Fowler as its next Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services. The Board unanimously confirmed his appointment at their May 10 meeting. Fowler, who currently serves as Principal of Granite Hills High School (Granite), will replace Mary Beth Kastan who will assume the office of Superintendent in July.

As Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, Fowler will oversee all aspects of GUHSD’s educational program including curriculum, assessment, career technical education, instructional practices and technology, student support and discipline, special education, adult education, athletics, and extracurricular activities. He will also support the principals and administrative teams at all of GUHSD’s schools and programs.

“We know Mike Fowler is the right choice because we’ve watched his remarkable success as the Principal of our largest high school for years,” said Board President Robert Shield.

As Principal, Fowler bolstered Granite’s reputation as an academic powerhouse by earning the “California Distinguished School” recognition and landing it on both the Washington Post’s list of the nation’s “Most Challenging High Schools” and the U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s “Best High Schools”. He also successfully led Granite through the “Future Forward” initiative that put Chromebooks in the hands of every student, and he enhanced student mental health services through an innovative community partnership.
 
“Mike Fowler’s proven track record of outstanding instructional leadership demonstrates his readiness for the position,” said GUHSD Superintendent Theresa Kemper. “Mike’s also widely-known as a deeply caring person whose commitment to the success of his students and staff is genuine and unwavering,” Kemper added.

“Over his 25-year GUHSD career, Mike Fowler has earned the deep respect of his colleagues and the admiration of our students and families” said Superintendent-Designate Kastan. “Mike’s thoughtfulness and vast experience make him the leader that our incredible Governing Board and school community deserve,” said Kastan.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to serve the Granite Hills community as their Principal,” said Fowler. “I’m grateful for the trust that our Board, Superintendent Kemper, and Superintendent-Designate Kastan have placed in me to continue serving our community as we pursue our District’s purpose of empowering each of our students to build the best future,” said Fowler.

Fowler graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and initially went into banking. After five years, however, Mr. Fowler chose to pursue a career in education, which he believed to be his true calling. He returned to SDSU to earn his teaching credential and then taught English, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Computer Applications at Helix High School. After earning a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and his Administrative Services credential from SDSU, he served as GUHSD’s Applied Learning Curriculum Specialist, and as an Assistant Principal at Granite and El Capitan High Schools before returning to Granite as Principal in 2013. Mr. Fowler is married to Maria Vidal-Fowler, a 22-year Army veteran who deployed to Iraq and now serves as Principal of Silver Gate Elementary School in San Diego.