Written by Phillip Myer
As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, Mrs. Bowman wraps up her last days as the Algona Middle School counselor. She has spent 26 years impacting students at Algona!
Mrs. Bowman was hired at Twin Rivers High School and taught Literature and World History for five years. In 1995, when she received her master’s degree, she transitioned to the position of high school counselor at Twin Rivers. In 2000 she started working at O.B. Laing Middle School in Algona as their 6th through 8th grade counselor. She then became the 5th through 8th grade counselor in 2010 when the new middle school was completed.
Mrs. Bowman says she will miss interacting with students and “seeing them change and grow” when she retires. The most satisfying part of her teaching career has been getting to know students as middle schoolers and seeing them grow up. She enjoys seeing former students out in the workforce in the community being successful.
When thinking about all of the students she has worked with and the growth she saw in both them and herself, she feels a real sense of accomplishment. “I’ve learned a lot and changed a lot over my 30+ years in education,” she states.
Many changes have occurred during her time at ACSD: moving into a new building, adding 5th grade to the middle school, shifts in administration, COVID, and staffing changes as colleagues and friends have moved on. Through it all, “I’ve been grateful to be part of students’ lives during such important years. I’m proud of the relationships and connections I have built along the way.”
Mrs. Bowman is incredibly grateful for being a part of the Algona Community School District these last 26 years. Thank you Mrs. Bowman for what you have done at Algona over the years. Your impact has helped Algona grow!