North Fort Myers High School athletic director suspended pending termination

The School District of Lee County confirmed on Thursday that North Fort Myers High School athletic director Joseph Bowen is suspended pending termination. Parents picking up their children from school expressed surprise at the suspension, with many unaware of the situation. "I'm an here. My oldest went here for four years. We were very excited to have her here, and my middle daughter also goes here. She's a senior this year," said Danielle Hagmann, a parent. Hagmann said this was the first time she had heard about Bowen's suspension. Michael Watkins, another parent, shared his thoughts on the matter. "I don't understand what the misunderstanding is, but, you know, things happen. Hopefully, they work it out," Watkins said. Gulf Coast News began asking the school district about Bowen's suspension last week after learning of an investigation. In an email to school staff, Principal Chris Drake confirmed Bowen would no longer be working as the school's athletic director and announced plans to begin searching for his replacement. Bowen has led North Fort Myers High's athletics since 2016. The school district has yet to disclose the reason behind Bowen's suspension. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV