Relishing a second career as an advocate for Lee schools

Marshall T. Bower goes to work in an old, brick schoolhouse in downtown Fort Myers. His office, what may have once been a classroom, still has the original windows installed in 1911. It seems the perfect place for the former deputy state attorney to embark on his mission, and that of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, "to enhance the opportunity for teachers and students in the public school system."

Marshall T. Bower COURTESY PHOTO As executive director for The Foundation, Mr. Bower says he feels lucky to have set out on this second career path nearly three years ago, after 22 years in the court system. Once a public prosecutor, he became increasingly involved with children's issues before it culminated in his current role as a full-time advocate for their education.

Mr. Bower says he often prosecuted juveniles whose sometimes tragic cases led him to get involved with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Abuse Counseling & Treatment Inc.

"There were an alarming number of young people committing very serious crimes," he said. "… Children's issues have become a long-time passion."

He also discovered a project that The Foundation for Lee Schools funded, The Take Stock in Children College Tuition Scholarship. It captured his attention because of the high success rate: 98 percent of the children end up graduating from college. The kids sign a contract promising to remain drug and crime free, Mr. Bower says, in exchange for mentoring and a full college scholarship.

Through this program, he was asked to become a member of The Foundation's board of directors, which ultimately led to his position there. Meanwhile, Mr. Bower had become a deputy state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit. In 2002, he ran against State Attorney Steve Russell for that office, lost, and opened a private practice in Fort Myers. A few years later he was hired at The Foundation.

The Golden Apple Award may be the nonprofit organization's best known event, recognizing a stellar teacher every year for his or her contribution to what Mr. Bower calls "the future": nearly 80,000 children in Lee County's public schools.

It also provides support for the school district with myriad programs, including grants, free supplies for teachers, scholarship programs, and events sponsored by local businesses and individuals.

"I'm a fairly hands-on type of executive director," Mr. Bower said, "constantly looking at ways to expand, raise funds and support teachers."

He described one of his main roles as "making sure that people understand the relevance of giving children a world-class education. Our kids compete against the kids being raised in China, France, South America and all over the world. They have to have a world-class education."

A program called Dancing Classrooms is one of the Foundation's latest projects. The 10-week course for fifth graders teaches them ballroom dancing — with the intended effect of inspiring new-found confidence. Mr. Bower says it also teaches children something about customs, traditions, geography, math (dance steps) and social graces. Local grade-school teachers are given instruction on how to teach the program by Pierre Dulaine, a Broadway dancer and instructor who started the program in New York City in 1994.

"Kids behavior was changing," as a result of the program, Mr. Bower said. "Their grades were going up. It's obviously good physical fitness as well. The outcomes are improved selfesteem and behavior…

"Last year I had a mother contact me and her son was in the program. They were not on the best terms; he was getting in trouble. There he was one day all dressed up and he asked his mother to dance with him. So he danced the tango with his mother."

Born and raised in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, much of Mr. Bower's family still lives there. His mother was director of nursing at All Children's Hospital in St. Pete, which led him toward a short-lived desire to be a doctor.

"The first time I had to dissect a rabbit made me change my mind," he said.

He earned a bachelor's degree at Florida State University, where he was interested in international politics and civil rights, and continued his education at the University of South Florida and the University of Florida.

Mr. Bower fits tennis, running and working out into his schedule, but his main focus is on helping children. He is on the board of Lee Mental Health, the PACE Center for Girls and the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

"I think that Lee County, its citizens and its businesses, recognize that students should be a top priority, if not number one," Mr. Bower said.

The Foundation has donated $26.5 million to Lee education programs since it was founded in 1984, the same year Mr. Bower moved to Fort Myers and became a prosecutor. He says some of the advocacy skills he learned as a lawyer come in handy at his new job.

"In the 2½ years I've been at the Foundation, we've expanded and grown," Mr. Bower said. "I've seen how invaluable we've become to (the school district). That makes you feel good, seeing the impact it has on the lives of students and teachers."