Craig Stephenson

Principal

Thomas E. Bowe Middle School

August 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians:

It is my pleasure to welcome all new and returning families to the Thomas E. Bowe Middle School which serves Glassboro students in Grades 6 through 8.  During the previous school year, we completed renovations to Bowe that included the conversion of formerly elementary school classrooms into three new science labs to support a rigorous middle school science program as well as updating of outdated elementary locker rooms to accommodate a middle school physical education and extra-curricular program.  We are excited about the opportunities these new structural renovations provide for our students and families.

As we enter the 2023-24 school year, I am truly honored to continue as a member of the Glassboro School District and Bowe School team. During my four years serving in the district as an elementary school principal and the previous year as the Thomas E. Bowe Middle School principal, my fondness and my passion for Bowe and the community of Glassboro has only grown.  This school and community are special places and I feel blessed to be a part of them.  The staff, students, and community members welcomed me from day one when I arrived five years ago, and the pride in our school and community they exude is infectious.  This sense of pride is warranted.  Glassboro is a wonderfully diverse community with a rich history and tradition, as well as an exciting present and future.  It is a true privilege to be part of the Glassboro family and community, and I look forward to continuing to work with our students, the Bowe Middle School staff, GPSD administrators, parents, and community members to build upon the strong foundations that have been established and to work to ensure that students at the Thomas E. Bowe Middle School have the best educational experience possible.

The 2023-24 school year is my sixth year as principal of the Bowe School and 30^th in the field of education.  For 14 years, I was a classroom teacher beginning with three years serving as a special education teacher for the Y.A.L.E. School in Williamstown, an alternative educational setting.  I then accepted a position as an English teacher at Elizabeth High School in Union County, New Jersey, where I taught language arts to multiple high school grade levels for three years.  In July of 2000, I accepted a teaching position at Kingsway Regional High School and remained in this role for 8 years.  While a member of the teaching staff, I also served as the English department chairperson, a baseball coach, and the school newspaper advisor.  In July of 2008, I was appointed as the Assistant Principal of Curriculum for the Kingsway Regional School District.  In this role, I worked with middle and high school teachers and students for three years until my appointment as principal of the high school.  It was an honor and pleasure to serve in this role for seven years.

I was thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to begin the next phase of my career at the Bowe School and in the Glassboro community in July of 2018.  The past five years have been extremely rewarding and I look forward to continuing to work with our outstanding staff, parents, and community members in 2023-24 and beyond to ensure we continue to create the very best educational opportunities for our students.

Please note that all parents/guardians are welcome to join the Bowe School Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) as a forum through which you can actively participate in collaborative efforts to positively impact our school and our children.  BPAC meetings are held periodically throughout the school year.  They are open to everyone and provide an opportunity to meet with me and other stakeholders to discuss events and programs at our school.  I encourage you to access the BPAC page of our website for more information on BPAC and 2023-24 meeting dates. 

Again, I am extremely excited about the present and future of Bowe School.  We have assembled a talented and dedicated staff (a wonderful blend of formerly Bowe Elementary and GIS staff) to serve our students and community.  I have great confidence in the ability of this staff to provide an exemplary education, and I look forward to an outstanding 2023-24 school year filled with many positive educational experiences and lasting memories for our children and the entire Bowe family.  Please know that throughout the school year, if there is anything I can do to assist you, do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Craig S. Stephenson

Principal/Thomas E. Bowe Middle School

GPSD School Safety Specialist

cstephenson@gpsd.us

856-652-2700 EXT 3101