Carol Bodwell, former president of the Princeton ISD Board of Trustees, has died following a lengthy illness, the district said. She was 80 years old.
Bodwell was elected to the school board in 1989, was elected president in 2002 and served in that capacity until her retirement from the board in 2022 after 33 years of service.
The PISD Career and Technical Education Center was named in her honor in 2014.
“Carol Bodwell has been the compass that has set the direction of this district, and the CATE program was her dream, and it became a reality in 2011,” said former Princeton ISD Superintendent Phil Anthony. “She always approached her decisions with the same question. What is in the best interest of our students?”
Anthony worked alongside Bodwell for more than 20 years.
The district said her legacy lives on through the CATE program, which has grown from offering 12 career pathways to 20 programs of study now.
In addition to PISD, Bodwell spent much of her life in a volunteer role, from Parent-Teacher Organizations, Cub Scouts, a community food pantry and the Lions Club.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this time,” Superintendent Donald McIntyre said. “We will miss her presence in our school community. She lived her life in service.”
Funeral arrangements were pending.
