Fairmount Principal

Sylvia Hooker thanked Dowdell for his leadership and encouragement.

Supt. Richard

Brooks thanked Dowdell for his service and his friendship.

"He has

made me a better person. I'm thankful for his friendship," he said.

Dowdell is

a native of Opelika, Ala., and earned his B.S. degree from Alabama State

University. He came to Coweta County in 1968 with four years of teaching

experience in Catoosa County and then Carroll County schools. His first

job in Coweta was as a teacher at Grantville Brown School, and then at

Moreland Elementary School.

In 1974, as

he completed an advanced degree at West Georgia College and was certified

in administration and supervision, he became an assistant principal at

Newnan High School under Principal Holmes Cunningham.

Dowdell went

on to serve as principal of Fairmount and Eastside elementary schools.

He moved to central office administration as assistant superintendent

for student support and special services in 1989, and rose to associate

superintendent in 1994, as Richard Brooks assumed the superintendency.

Dowdell also

leads an active civic life, and currently serves as a steward of the Greater

Mt. Zion Church and on the board of directors for the Newnan-Coweta Boys

and Girls Club and the Bank of Coweta, and is a member of the 100 Black

Men of West Georgia.

He has also

been board chairman of the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Commission,

a board member of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, the University

of West Georgia Newnan Center, the Rutledge Center, the Coweta Clean and

Beautiful Commission, the County Fire Commission, and as a United Way

trustee.

His professional

memberships include the Professional Associaion of Georgia Educators,

Phi Delta Kappa and the Georgia School Superintendent's Association.

Just as he

misses teaching at times, he will also miss his work at Jackson Street,

Dowdell said.

"I've

enjoyed working with a wonderful group of folks ... principals and teachers,

parents and students, and everyone in the central office," he said.

"I enjoy what I do. I hope somewhere along the line I've made a difference

in the lives of others."

Dowdell has

known Supt. Richard Brooks since both worked as assistant principals at

Newnan High School and then as assistant superintendents together.

"I've

had an excellent opportunity in working with Richard. He is a super person,

not only professionally but also as an individual. He's been an invaluable

leader."

Dowdell has

seen significant change in the school system since arriving in Coweta

County in 1968.

"I've

seen constant improvement in 34 years in our test scores and our facilities.

Our teachers, too, are better and better prepared to meet the challenges

of a classroom," he said.

"I believe

we're definitely heading in the right direction," he added.

Even though

schools have improved in Coweta County over the years, Dowdell said there's

still room for more improvement, not only in the classroom, but with parental

involvement and civic and business involvement in the school system.

"I think

churches can take a greater role, too," he said.

His advice

to his successor or anyone coming to the school system is to stay focused

on the core missions of the school and school system.

"Every

decision we make has to be judged by how it impacts students. We need

to always make sure we're providing the best learning opportunity we can

for students, so when they go into the world they can compete and succeed

in an increasingly competitive world."

Dowdell said

his immediate plans upon retirement involve maintaining his civic roles,

traveling, fishing and golfing. Mostly, though, he looks forward to spending

more time with family, including his wife, the former Verneda Aldridge,

his daughter and son-in-law, and his two grandchildren, Kamran and Karston.