Angel Bowen Brown runs for School Board

Houston County lifelong resident Angel Bowen Brown has announced that she is running for Post 7 for the Houston County Board of Education.

She attended Parkwood Elementary School and then went on to Northside Junior and Northside High School. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in exercise science. Brown then obtained her degree in physical therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. 

Brown met her husband there and has been married for almost 25 years; they have three children together. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dogs and at the Firestarter FabLab, a place where people create, design and build furniture. 

“The Firestarter FabLab is something that is in collaboration with the Houston County Board of Education and Flint Energies. I’ve been doing that for six years,” Brown said.

Brown is new to politics but has a deep connection to the school system.”

“Over the last 18 years, I’ve been pretty actively involved in various roles in the school as a parent and a community member,” Brown said. 

For the last 10 years, Brown has been the community business partner for the school council at Matthew Arthur Elementary and Veterans High School. As part of the school council, she has worked closely with teachers, parents, and administrators.

“[School council] addresses the issues and initiatives that can improve the day-to-day operations of the school. In general, I’m just really committed to the school community,” Brown said. 

Brown emphasized that she wanted to live and have her kids go to school in Houston County. 

“When my husband and I got engaged, the first thing I told him was that I wanted to live in Houston County because our kids are going to school there. It shows that I already saw the value and the uniqueness of Houston County, even in my 20s,” she said. 

Since all of her children have left the house and are off to college, Brown stepped back from being more involved in the school system. Over the last few months, she came to the realization that work still needs to be done.

“I believe that the future is shaped by our actions today. My motivation runs from a deep-seeded commitment for protecting and preserving the integrity of our school system. I’m dedicated to ensuring the future generations which include my grand nieces and nephews and eventually my grandkids to be provided with the same quality of education that has shaped my children and myself,” she said. 

Brown qualified to run for the Houston County Board of Education a week-and-a-half ago. 

“I’ve been really overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of support and encouragement I received in the first week. There is a learning curve for sure with me being new to politics. The election is just nine weeks away and there’s a lot to be done,” Brown said. 

If elected, Brown mentioned the three main priorities she stands by. First, she wants to maintain a safe educational environment focused on learning. 

“Kids need to learn without agendas and biases. [School] is not really a place for politics,” she said.

Her second priority is to support and empower teachers.

“We have to prioritize our teachers into doing what they do best, which is teaching and not all of this other extra stuff being thrusted upon them. It’s important for us to make sure that teachers should have the resources and the support they need,” Brown said. 

Her third priority is to ensure financial responsibility. 

“We need people with business experience that understand budgets, human resource issues, having a vision, and proactive planning for growth. I think our school system does a great job at that,” Brown said. 

Brown has always considered herself a leader rather than a follower. She mentioned that her leadership stems from her Christian values. 

“It’s important to see the value in every individual and showing love and respect is a true testament to leadership,” Brown said. 

Brown’s major influence in the school system that shaped her was her former principal at Northside, Ed Dyson. 

“He was a true leader and was an inspiration. He was strong in his faith and he loved and believed in everybody,” Brown said. 

She wants to try and aspire to some of his qualities, such as being a good listener, standing firm in her beliefs, and serving others. 

Brown’s leadership style focuses on collaboration and getting people together and to start a dialogue. She likes to give her own input and also research issues thoroughly before a decision is made. 

“Being able to take into account everyone and finding a consensus that benefits all is important to me,” Brown said. 

The Houston County Board of Education has solid leadership already, she believes. 

“I think that the School Board is really successful because they put aside their personal agendas and they work together for the good of the entire community,” Brown said.  “That is something I would do as well. I think I can bring new ideas, drive, and passion to the table while still working with the same goal.”

HHJ News