Media specialist Fowler retires from River Crest
Rebecca Fowler has been promoting reading in the Hudson School District for the past 17 years and says she has enjoyed every minute of it. She will retire as River Crest Elementary’s media specialist at the end of the school year.By: Meg Heaton, Hudson Star-Observer
- Rebecca Fowler, left, with assistant Elaine Fredrikson
Rebecca Fowler has been promoting reading in the Hudson School District for the past 17 years and says she has enjoyed every minute of it.
She will retire as River Crest Elementary’s media specialist at the end of the school year.
Fowler was a k-12 teacher when she came to the Hudson School District but shortly after coming to Houlton Elementary she became a certified media specialist. She spent three years there before moving onto Willow River Elementary for 10 years. She has been at River Crest ever since it opened four years ago.
She is glad to have served at the three schools: Houlton, Hudson’s country school; Willow River, its neighborhood school; and finally at River Crest, the district’s “green” school.
“Each one has its own personality and they are all unique in their own way. But they also share some very important things in common. They all have wonderful students, dedicated parents and wonderful teachers and staff. I am fortunate to have worked at each of them.”
Fowler says the best part of her job over the years has been to “spark an interest in and a passion for reading.”
She said over the years her job has gone beyond the walls of the library and media center. She points to programs like River Crest’s “Hot Reads” where everyone from school Principal Travis Barringer to teachers and school custodians have let her take their pictures with their favorite books.
“It has gotten a wonderful response. I can’t keep up with the requests for the ‘hot reads.’ Our students do it as well. There is nothing like a fifth-grade boy recommending a book to make it popular with younger kids,” said Fowler.
Fowler says author appearances at the school are another of her favorite things. “We are very fortunate to have had a number of local authors come to our school. That is always exciting for the kids and for me.”
Family reading nights are another favorite thing. With pizza provided by the parent group, parents and children come to school to read and be read to. “It’s a very popular night and it is so wonderful to see the kids reading with their parents.”
But as the title implies, it isn’t just about library books and reading. Fowler works with students on their technology skills and how to use the Internet and other media to research and explore information.
And being at Hudson’s first “green” school has been more exciting than Fowler anticipated. She says it impacts all aspects of education including the library’s collection. “We have an emphasis on books relating to sustainability and protecting the environment. It has been so fun to see how everyone has embraced the idea.”
Fowler says she works with teachers and students in all sorts of ways related to environmental issues. She recently helped students create a video on a worm composting project that was broadcast to the whole school.
Fowler said she has enjoyed working in the Hudson School District and appreciates her time here. She acknowledges that recent events and budget concerns have created stress but is adamant that everyone in the district is firmly committed to providing students with best education possible.
“I just wish people would realize that everyone in the district — administrators, teachers and parents — all want the best for the children. They all have a passion for what they do and there should be respect for what everyone brings to the table.”
Fowler says everyone plays a role in a student’s education and that’s one of the things she loves about the Hudson School District. “Parents are the rudder of the ship but the ship wouldn’t sail with the teachers rowing it.”
Fowler credits her husband David for much of her success. “He is the main reason I am where I am today. He encouraged and enabled me to go to back to school and advance my degrees.“
She plans on focusing on being a grandmother once she retires. Her son, Ryan and his wife Michele, have two children, Keely and Raylan. Her daughter Jaime and her husband Bradley also have two children, Madyson and Payton. In between spending time with them, she will enjoy her two favorite things, quilting and reading.
While she looks forward to more time with her family and hobbies, it is clear she will miss her other family — the one she leaves behind at school.
Tags: news, education, hudson, books
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