Melissa Bowerman, High School Track Coach, Takes Student To Prom, Is Dismissed From Position

Melissa Bowerman

Melissa Bowerman, a 41-year-old volunteer track coach at Condon High School in Pendleton, Ore., has been dismissed from her position after she accompanied a male student from the team to the school's prom last month, the East Oregonian reports.

According to KTVZ-TV, Bowerman -- who is the daughter-in-law of Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman -- admits she made an error in judgment, but maintains she never had an inappropriate relationship with the teen.

The station reports that the coach agreed to go only because she felt bad for him he since he didn't have a date and was doing poorly in English.

"If they go on (academic) probation and suspension, then they can't go to the track meets," Melissa Bowerman said, according to the Associated Press. "I said, 'OK, I will go with you, but we've got to talk about English first. You're going to do better in English.'"

According to the AP, Bowerman got permission from the boy's father, Bob Thomas, to accompany him to the dance.

"The first thing I thought, 'Maybe this isn't a good idea,'" Thomas said. "But Melissa has been like a surrogate mom to these kids for years."

Bowerman's 73-year-old husband and co-coach Jon Bowerman told the AP that if his wife is not allowed to return to the team he may not either.

Comments

[Brett Murray]

01:51 AM on 06/25/2012

Look at the big picture. Yes everything seems innocent enough in this case but you can't set a precedent where adults are going to proms with students. If it is ok for her then its ok for everyone. Also she never contacted the school which would likely have refused her request. Just because she told her husband and had the boy's father permission is not material here. This was a school sponsored function that apply all the rules of any other function, plain and simple. She made a mistake and there was a investigation and a decision was made.

[provgrays1]

05:30 AM on 06/11/2012

Even if all she said is true, it's still incredibly inappropriate.

[moviepage101]

06:43 PM on 05/28/2012

"Bowerman's 73-year-old husband and co-coach Jon Bowerman..."

In today's climate of female teacher sex scandals, she should have excercised better judgement. I wonder if her husband being 73 played a role in how this was perceivied...

[foresure]

05:13 PM on 05/24/2012

Does no one reading this appreciate the traditions of the prom.

Fancy clothes, flowers, and defloration.

[foresure]

05:07 PM on 05/24/2012

The first thing teachers will argue, which is of course completely counterfactual, is that a Prom has absolutley no sexual connotation.

It is merely a celebration of ballroom dancing and fellowship.

[foresure]

05:05 PM on 05/24/2012

The agitation from teachers is that they believe that while they should be respected, they should be no limits to the interactions that they have with their students.

Then they wonder why they are disrespected.

[Arbitratorman]

10:26 PM on 05/24/2012

Exactly, teacher's cannot have it both ways and there's a reason why you do not address teachers by the first names out of respect and why officers do not fraternize with enlisted personnel. But, had there not been prior teacher-student infidelities in the press lately, this might be innocent. But, far too many teachers have crossed the line and this is damage control.

The fact that a student would even think it okay to ask a teacher to the prom is troubling. It's poor judgment and it does not matter if the prom is not considered sexual as there should be no fraternizing outside of school between teacher and student period.

[Paul Schubert]

07:06 AM on 05/24/2012

This is one of the most ridiculous situations I have read about in years. Based on all the information I have gathered, the two school superintendents/athletic directors need to be fired and replaced immediately before they really mess things up for current and future athletes from the area. And, the school system owes the woman (and her husband) a written/public apology.

[TBay]

09:36 PM on 05/28/2012

She could have just as easily said I'm going as a "Chaperone" of the prom. Just a bit of confidence may be all it takes to build a good student. Why do the knuckle draggers think everthing goes to the lowest possible level..... The gutter.

[pwc11]

04:55 PM on 05/23/2012

For one, Melissa Bowerman is not or was not a teacher. Her and her husband stepped up to coach track because the program at our school was going under. Instead of taking a salary as coaches, the two decided to volunteer for the positions so that the program could have more money. Melissa is someone who put her entire heart into doing what she could to help out the kids whether it had to do with track and field or not. She loved our team and being apart of our team more than anything. Not only did Jon and Melissa save our track program, but they also managed to get us new uniforms, a new track, and gave us the training to compete at the state meet and perform well enough for a state title.
Melissa was told to resign by the two school superintendents/athletic directors. (Condon and Fossil schools are combined for sports due to low numbers).

[spikedawg71]

06:58 PM on 05/23/2012

It's like most school districts, full of these administrators that are just full of it. Most administratores create more problems than they actually would normally get. Most are overpaid and most are enjoying their cushy little job. They don't care about education or students or teachers for the most part, and one complaint about a video results in a student being deprived of class. I only wish I was the one that got that call from that parent. None of this would have ever become an issue.

[sltaylor2]

09:22 PM on 05/24/2012

Reading this saddens me to know our civilization has sunk to the level that someone like Ms Bowerman is relegated to treatment like this. Our mindset is in the gutter, immediately assuming the worst instead of the innocent until proven guilty premise our founding fathers were wise enough to instill into our legal system. Her husband knew she was doing this; she insisted the kid improve his academic work as a quid pro quo for his attending with him. I assume his parents weren't in the dark. If the kid had asked a celebrity to attend, like some similar events that have garnered national attention recently and met with approval, I'm confident there would be no problem here. While I fully understand sexual mistreatment of kids by coaches, her approach says to me she had his welfare at heart. How stupid can these folks be not to recognize this? Incidentally, my wife was a social worker who worked with sex abuse victims so I think I have a heightened awareness of sexual predators. I don't see that here. She did the right thing by agreeing to go with him with conditions attached regarding his academic work. The wrong person was dismissed here; think district admin instead. Melissa Bowerman, I don't know you, but your approach to this was admirable. I'm sorry to hear you won't be coaching there in the future. Too bad for the district. If I was a school administrator, I'd have you as my track coach.

[viciousvirago]

10:01 AM on 05/23/2012

This woman did nothing wrong whasoever. People are just ASSUMING that she was having sex with the boy. If the boy's father gave permission, who are we to argue against it?

Let's stop jumping the gun when we don't have all the facts.

[Arbitratorman]

10:32 PM on 05/24/2012

Right, she should not be fired but it is definitely poor judgment and possibly damage control by the district in light of the rash of teacher-student infidelities lately.

There's a reason officers do not fraternize with enlisted personnel and why you do not allow students to call teachers by their first names. Teachers complain of disrespect but cross the line all the time and so they cannot have it both ways.

[viciousvirago]

11:36 PM on 05/24/2012

I'm well aware of the rule of fraternization since I used to be a colonel in the Army (trauma surgeon).

Your explanation runs both ways. I don't think teachers are being too chummy with the kids, considering what kids are today: unruly and disrespectful.

Cross the line, how? If you're talking about sex between teacher and student under l8, that is rape.

I still say she did nothing wrong. If it was o.k. with the kid's father, how can any authority disagree? Is there proof she was having sex with the boy? Not that I know of. Let's wait and see IF there is proof of same, then judge her.

[rickcraft55]

08:42 AM on 05/23/2012

I do not see bad intentions on this coaches part. She informed both her husband and his dad. Perhaps she should have talked to the administration. We have become very cynical but sometimes people just do nice things.

[prawn259]

09:02 AM on 05/23/2012

That much is obvious, but it makes no difference. Students and teachers are on opposite sides of a fence and don't mix socially. Period. There is no discussion on the matter.
Now... her husband is 73?

[rickcraft55]

09:26 AM on 05/23/2012

I did not say I condone or support her actions, I saw no bad intentions and still do not. As for the husband being 73 your point is? Personally I have always wondered how people could get together with such huge age differences. I would not, but I have seen many people do much worse for money.
Lets see take a bride who is 38 years younger that will try her best to screw you to death for your money or have a Bernie Madoff screw you for everything you own and leave you broke and homeless. Hmm I think I will take door #1. But that's just me

[daniele7ster]

07:05 PM on 05/29/2012

73 and a millionaire, perhaps even a multi-millionaire.

[mdmcarauder805]

07:14 AM on 05/23/2012

It was a sweet but foolish thing to do. Anyone who has taught or worked with juniors or seniors in high school know the pain that some go through when they don't have a date to the prom, especially if they are also having academic problems. She did step over a line that must be maintained but it doesn't seem as if she were involved in an inappropriate relationship. It seems as though there should be some way to come to a happy resolution, especially since the young man's father knew and didn't disapprove of the situation.

[daniele7ster]

07:09 PM on 05/29/2012

The young man's father had this to say:
"The first thing I thought, 'Maybe this isn't a good idea.' But Melissa has been like a surrogate mom to these kids for years," Bob Thomas said.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/05/bill_bowermans_daughter-in-law.html
Bet he wishes he'd gone with his gut instinct.

[XV8 Crisis Suit]

06:28 AM on 05/23/2012

I highly doubt if she ACTUALLY was having a inappropriate relationship with the student that she would have been so bold to take him to prom.

[daniele7ster]

07:10 PM on 05/29/2012

Maybe this was to be their first date. ;)

[writerredux]

06:20 AM on 05/23/2012

“No good deed goes unpunished.”
― Oscar Wilde

[viciousvirago]

10:02 AM on 05/23/2012

Finally....a witty yet quick reply. Oscar Wilde is to be feared by all who claim to be good writers.

[msminnie]

11:36 AM on 05/23/2012

My spouse, the great "ideas guy" uses that quote all the time. Words to live by.

[Jaynelbob]

02:49 AM on 05/23/2012

Not having a date for the prom is better than going with a teacher! That's like going with your mum or sister and is guaranteed to sink any remaining social standing the poor kid has. I don't think it's worth the teacher being dismissed over though.

Wonder if it has anything to do with the 32 year age gap between the Bowermans?

[clarkesantacruz]

01:50 AM on 05/23/2012

what did she do wrong?

[prawn259]

09:03 AM on 05/23/2012

Read the story.

[foresure]

05:08 PM on 05/24/2012

clark:

She failed to recognize that all social structures require boundaries.

[clarkesantacruz]

01:39 AM on 05/25/2012

stupid answer billy bob