SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – “We shouldn’t be here to discuss all the negativity and the challenges, but how they can be fixed, how to make opportunities happen, and open doors because our children need our guidance, and that’s how I see leadership to be.” 

So said Desiree Fowler during her acceptance speech at the Arizona School Board Association’s annual meeting, where she was sworn in as the association’s new president. 

Fowler is the first indigenous person to serve as ASBA president. The swearing-in/passing-the-gavel ceremony happened last Friday on the second day of the conference. 

Though Fowler officially took over the duties of ASBA President Friday, she has served as ASBA’s president-elect since summer 2023 after the previous president, James Bryce, stepped down. Fowler has also served on ASBA’s Hispanic-Native American Caucus Chair for two years, executive secretary for a year and executive treasurer for a year. Fowler’s term as ASBA president will be for one year.

One of Fowler’s early priorities in her role as ASBA president is to bring cohesiveness, healing and structure back to the board of directors and build a strong, unified team.

Another of Fowler’s big goals is to bring schools from northern Arizona, rural Arizona and Native American reservations under ASBA’s tent and give them the same level of attention and resources as urban schools from the more densely populated parts of the state.

“The ASBA’s executive board needs to reflect Arizona’s student population, with diversity, inclusion and equity,” Fowler said. “That’s all part of ASBA’s framework.”

Fowler is wasting no time putting her plan into action. She recently took a trip to San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, a town that lies across the border from San Luis, Arizona. There she met with Mexican students who cross the Mexico/United States border so they can attend school in the United States. They cross into the United States because they’re able to receive a better education than they’d get in Mexico.

“Some of these students wake up at 3 o’clock in the morning to make the journey and be in class by 8 o’clock,” Fowler said. “What a journey that is. It really shows their resiliency as they navigate the barriers between them and a good education. It was a really big eye-opener for me. I wanted to witness it for my own experience.”

Her trip into Mexico lasted only a few hours. While there she met with some of the families of the students who attended school in San Luis, Arizona. Most of them lived in humble homes, where it was apparent that they didn’t have a lot of money. It reminded her of her own childhood experience with education.

“It took me back to the Hogan where I grew up,” she said. “We never had a table but ate our meals sitting on the ground. I saw so many similarities between their circumstances and my own growing up. It really made me remember and appreciate the position I’m in to help these students. If they’re willing to make the journey to Arizona to get a good education, I’m willing to meet them halfway to make that happen. I learned so much from that visit. It only increased my desire to visit other Arizona schools I haven’t been and learn their stories.”

Fowler was born in Fort Defiance, Arizona. She was raised by her grandparents from the time she was a baby until halfway through kindergarten. When her mother remarried and moved to Coppermine, Arizona, Fowler moved there with her, and continued her education in Page, Arizona. Fowler attended Desert View Elementary, where she finished kindergarten. She then attended Kaibeto Boarding School for first, second and third grade. She returned to Page in fourth grade and went on to graduate from Page High School in 1999 as a teenage mother with twin boys.

Due to the circumstances of Fowler’s upbringing and the role that education played in her life, Fowler has a soft spot for students, programs and schools that are striving to succeed but

are struggling due to lack of resources or proper leadership. During her tenure on PUSD’s school board, she developed a reputation for standing with and fighting for those students and programs to help them reach their full potential.

Fowler is also a school board member for Page Unified School District (PUSD). Fowler has served on PUSD school board for seven years. Three and a half of those years she served as PUSD Board president. Fowler will continue serving on PUSD’s school board. Her term ends in December 2024. She plans to run again after that.

When asked why she took on the role of ASBA President, Fowler said, “Being a little girl who came from the Reservation, I know what it’s like to struggle. I understand the challenges and barriers that I faced shouldn’t be a reality for today’s students. I am driven by my understanding of my self-identity. It’s very important to me that all of Arizona’s students are properly and equally represented.”

The ASBA annual conference was held at the Desert Hill’s Marriot in Scottsdale, Arizona. The swearing-in ceremony – held in one of the hotel’s spacious ballrooms – was filled to capacity with ASBA members, as well as dignitaries and members of the Native American community who were there to support Fowler and wish her well on her new endeavor. At times the atmosphere was rousing and joyful, at other times reflective and reverent.

Fowler invited several Native American groups to participate in the ceremony. Friday’s swearing-in ceremony opened with members of The Braves Cultural Group of San Carlos Unified School District whose dance served as a blessing of the grounds to start the day.    

Members of Page High School’s Navajo Language-UNITY Club also performed. Led by Carlos Begay, PUSD’s Indian Education Office Director, the UNITY Club sang an honor song that signifies something precious, honorable and prestigious being placed for safekeeping into a steward’s hands. 

Following the song, Carlos conducted the swearing-in/passing-the-gavel ceremony. On stage, with the UNITY Club standing behind him, Begay first handed Fowler a woven basket and blessed it with corn pollen. Then into the basket he placed the gavel and the strike plate. Under normal circumstances, the ASBA’s outgoing president would have passed the gavel to Fowler, but since he quit last summer, a new plan had to be found. 

After being sworn in, Fowler addressed those in attendance. Her remarks were followed by the conference’s keynote speaker, D.J. Vanas. The ceremony concluded with a performance of a traditional Navajo Hoop dance. The hoop dance was performed by Fowler’s youngest son, Owen Fowler, and accompanied by Archie Hunt, who played the drum and sang. 

PUSD student Kaydence Tsinigine was honored to be part of the ceremony. 

“It was a good experience for me,” Tsinigine said. “It was my first time at this type of conference. I’m glad that I and my club were able to speak our voices at our presentation yesterday.”

Navajo President Buu Nygren also reached out to Fowler to wish her well on her new endeavor.

“I am very proud to congratulate Desiree Fowler of Coppermine, Arizona, on her induction as the first Indigenous president of the Arizona School Board Association Board of Directors,” President Nygren said. “Navajos have waited since the 1960s to not only be acknowledged by our representatives but to become representatives themselves. Our esteemed local leaders like Desiree are rising to the top of those boards, councils and legislatures. Now we have the first Native and Navajo chair of the Arizona School Board Association, which has the responsibility of our most precious children in its hands. Thank you, Desiree. I know you’ll make us proud.”