Creating the Conditions for AVID to Thrive

Within every thriving classroom, successful campus, and evolving district, leaders are making thousands of decisions that shape culture, build systems, and create opportunities for students. 

Helping those leaders understand and embrace that responsibility is the work of Brett Bowers, AVID Center’s Vice President of School District Leadership. “I help administrative and teacher leaders understand their role in creating strong systems of support that ensure all students in their organization get what they need to be ready for college, career, and life.” 

When Implementation Inspires Belief 

Brett’s path to AVID started where many impactful educational journeys do: in the classroom. 

He began his career as a high school English teacher before stepping into school leadership, eventually serving nearly two decades as a high school administrator, including 15 years as a principal. It was while working as an assistant principal that he was first introduced to AVID. That moment would shape the trajectory of his career. 

As a principal, Brett helped launch and lead AVID implementation at two high schools, both early adopters in their districts and among the first AVID implementations in Wisconsin. 

“I believe deeply in AVID’s mission,” Brett says, “and I have seen firsthand the transformational impact of a strong AVID implementation, from individual students to teachers to entire schools and districts.” 

Creating the Conditions for AVID to Thrive 

Brett brings his experience as a teacher and principal into a role where his impact extends to leaders across entire districts. Over the past seven years with AVID, including two years in his current role, Brett helps leaders understand how their decisions and actions shape outcomes for students. 

An AVID statement that Brett heard 20 years ago changed the way he thinks about and approaches his work as a leader. That statement, Culture is what you allow, and the belief behind it show up in every aspect of his work. Brett helps ensure that AVID’s leadership development, professional learning, and related tools function as a connected system, giving leaders confidence and clarity. What leaders learn translates into stronger practices, aligned teams, and meaningful results for students. 

“Leaders have tremendous impact on the culture, systems, and impact of schools and districts,” Brett explains. “By supporting their work and aligning it across roles, I help create the conditions for AVID to thrive.” 

But Brett’s impact isn’t limited to the experiences and resources he helps create. Whether designing professional learning or working directly with educators, he brings both practicality and passion to the work, grounding leadership in real-world application while keeping the focus on students. 

Those qualities are especially evident when he has the opportunity to engage leaders in person. 

“Getting the chance to lend my voice to this work is always energizing,” he says. “I consider those opportunities true gifts, and I do whatever I can to leave people inspired and equipped to be their best for students and their communities.” 

The AVID General Contractor 

A key element of Brett’s impact is a three-part Community of Practice (CoP) sequence for leaders and administrators. The learning journey begins with a core analogy: the principal as the AVID general contractor, responsible for coordinating, aligning, and ensuring quality across all aspects of implementation. 

Brett has seen firsthand how that message resonates with leaders. One exchange during a principal collaborative in Houston has stayed with him. After learning about the AVID general contractor concept, a principal eagerly shared how he was applying that mindset in his own school. 

“I will never forget that exchange,” Brett says. “It reminded me so clearly of the importance of this work and the impact that can come from leaders knowing and embracing their role in AVID.” 

The sequence culminates with Transformational AVID Leadership, a CoP experience that helps experienced leaders turn strong AVID implementation into a systemwide driver of student success by aligning practices, strengthening systems, and unifying efforts across schools and districts. 

This capstone experience, Brett says, “is something I treasure as reflecting some of my best thinking about AVID and leadership.” 

Bridging the Gap Between Preparation and Practice 

One of the initiatives at AVID that Brett is most excited about is the Rising School Administrator Academy. 

Many aspiring and new administrators are prepared in theory but underprepared for the day-to-day realities of the role. The Academy was created to help bridge that gap, complementing traditional leadership training with a focus on the everyday decisions, challenges, and perspectives that educators encounter as they transition into school leadership. 

“The Academy helps participants shift their thinking to develop the mindset and perspective needed to do the everyday work of school administration well and with confidence,” Brett explains. 

For Brett, that practical focus is what makes the Academy so compelling. By equipping emerging leaders with the confidence and perspective needed to navigate the realities of the role, it helps strengthen the pipeline of future school leaders and sets them up to lead effectively from day one. 

A Small Detail That Says a Lot 

Outside of work, Brett embraces something a little sweeter. 

“People who don’t know me well are sometimes surprised to see me hammering down chocolate chip cookies at breakfast time,” he shares. “People who do know me well are never surprised!” 

In fact, Brett is quick to point out that there’s never a bad time for ice cream or a cupcake. “Or both,” he’ll add with a smile. 

It’s a lighthearted detail that reflects something deeper. That same enthusiasm and appreciation that Brett brings for the simple joys in life also shape the way he approaches leadership, his career in education, and his commitment to helping others grow. 

Strengthening Leaders Strengthens Systems 

As AVID continues to expand its support for leadership development, Brett remains focused on helping leaders at every stage build the mindset, skills, and confidence needed to create lasting impact. 

His work is guided by a belief that has shaped his career: When leaders understand their role and intentionally create the conditions for success, entire systems become stronger. And more students, educators, and communities can experience the transformative impact of AVID. 

Try This: Brett’s Take on Leading Meaningful, Lasting Change 

1. Focus on what’s meaningful and manageable. 
“Focus on making your efforts meaningful and manageable.” Ground your work in purpose and keep it sustainable so that progress can build over time. 

2. Don’t rush to make it bigger. 
“Yes, AVID can scale in its depth and scope of impact. …With that said, don’t rush your efforts to make AVID ‘bigger’ and don’t push people or your system to extremes.” Strong implementation grows best when it’s given time to take root. 

3. Let quality and results lead the way. 
“The best way for AVID’s impact to spread is for each step of the work, as small as a single classroom, to be done well and right. Quality and results are the seeds for AVID growth.”