Government » Enid Walk of Fame » 2011-2020
It would be difficult to find a child or adolescent in Enid – or even an adult – whose life has not been touched by the generosity and wisdom of Willa Jo Fowler. For over 45 years, Willa Jo gave her time and talents selflessly as a member of the Enid Board of Education. Every time a student grasps a math skill, kicks a field goal or performs a sonata, Willa Jo and her fellow board members have been involved, through their governance of and commitment to the district and its students.
Willa Jo began her career with the Board of Education in 1975, after spending several years in the classroom herself. In the four decades since that time, she – with fellow board members – has led the district to outstanding success – including record student enrollment growth, more than $225 million in bond issue improvements and a full slate of diverse and rigorous course offerings. She has served as president of the local board more than seven times, and she is an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars.
Willa Jo’s influence on the district, however, is not limited to her seat on the board. She was instrumental in the implementation of Enid Public School’s full-day four-year-old and kindergarten programs. As a former teacher and director of Learning Tree Pre-School for 35 years, her expertise as a professional development presenter has been invaluable to the district and educators across the region. She has authored and co-authored materials on early childhood education, as well as conducted 24 one-hour training videos that aired on public television. She also has helped future teachers prepare for their careers as an instructor at Phillips University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
In the community, Willa Jo is a respected and committed volunteer. As a Success by 6 committee member, she helped educate the community and parents about the importance of early learning years – birth to age six. She is a member of the Human Services Alliance of Greater Enid, which identifies community needs and coordinates agencies’ efforts to address them. She is a past member and president of the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center Board of Directors and has been very involved in healthcare issues that affect Oklahomans.
Willa Jo also gives her time to the Cherokee Strip Community Foundation, where she has contributed to numerous committees. Her service to the community has been recognized in many ways, including her selection for the Phillips University Distinguished Alumni Award and her induction to the Enid Public School Foundation Hall of Fame.
Perhaps Willa Jo’s greatest contribution to Enid and Oklahoma has been her involvement in the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, which impacts school excellence for students statewide. She served the organization from 1989-2016, including multiple terms as the District 3 representative and one term as the state president. Willa Jo is a tireless advocate for public education. As she said after being re-elected to her OSSBA post one year, “It may sound simplistic, but every child deserves a good education. There are so many ways to keep improving and providing better opportunities.”
