Josh Fowler has been an educator for 24 years, and 20 of those have been in the Cobb County School District. He has been a teacher at Palmer and Lost Mountain Middle Schools and an Assistant Principal at Durham Middle School. You can also add Principal to his impressive resume, as he will take over at Lost Mountain Middle in July.

"My eleven years at Lost Mountain gave me an opportunity to witness first-hand how involved and generous this community and staff are," Principal Fowler said, "I am beyond ecstatic to be given this opportunity to build positive relationships and help our students grow to achieve their goals."

Just over a year ago, Lost Mountain celebrated its 30th year of education. It was a milestone and reminder to the staff, students, and community: Lost Mountain is here to stay. Principal Fowler is ready and able to move the school into its next thirty years. "In the Cobb County School District, we believe in being one team with one goal: student success. Together, we are that one team. My goal is to build positive relationships with students, staff, and families during this journey," he said enthusiastically.

In the following Q&A, Principal Fowler explains his leadership philosophy and goals for Lost Mountain.

Question: Why are you excited about joining the Lost Mountain Middle School community?

Answer: Becoming the principal of Lost Mountain Middle School has been my dream job since I began my journey into administration. My eleven years in this community were some of the best years I have had in my educational career. I feel extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to come back. The Lost Mountain Community has always been known for its support of the school, staff, and students. There is a long tradition here of educational excellence that I look forward to continuing. With the support of our staff and families, I cannot wait to see what our students can achieve going forward!

Q: What can the school community expect to see under your leadership?

A: Under my leadership, the school community can expect to see a staff that is dedicated to ensuring all students can succeed. I strive to see that we are one team that works together to make sure that all of our students are prepared to go to high school with the tools they need to be successful. I look forward to providing our students with a rigorous, engaging, and high-quality middle school experience that enables them to reach their full potential. 

Q: What does student success look like to you?

A: Student success looks different for every student depending on what their goals are. I believe that all students should set challenging goals, create a plan for achieving those goals, and then put in the work necessary to achieve the goals. When those goals are met, students have achieved success. Our job as educators is to provide the students with the necessary tools to help them achieve their desired goals. 

Q: What do you like most about being an educator/principal?

A: My favorite part about specifically being a middle school educator is seeing the growth the students achieve during their very short time with us. Middle school students change so much, both physically and mentally, during these three years. I truly appreciate when they come in as children who struggle to open a locker but, shortly after, are giving tours of the building to new students. Each year, on the last day of school, I watch our 8th-grade students leave for the last time after they have grown two feet taller, have achieved so many personal goals, and are hardly recognizable from their 6th-grade yearbook pictures. It gives me a sense of pride knowing that our teamwork played a role in this transformation! 

Q: Outside school, where might students, parents, or staff members run into you?

A: Outside of school, I can be found at a campground. My family and I regularly camp at Lake Allatoona. We enjoy hiking, kayaking, and finding fun recipes to cook on a fire. I am also an avid sports fan. I love live sports. I especially enjoy going to Rome to watch minor-league baseball games. 

Welcome to your new role at Lost Mountain, Principal Fowler! We can't wait to see what the future holds for you, the school, and the entire Lost Mountain community under your leadership.