Arlington ISD confirms a veteran Fort Worth administrator will take over at Bowie High, two years after a campus shooting prompted security reviews.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arlington ISD has named Justin Edwards as the new principal of Bowie High School, the district announced Tuesday.
Edwards, who officially begins his new role Wednesday, July 1, brings 16 years of experience in education within Fort Worth ISD. He most recently served as the principal of Dunbar High School.
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“Edward’s passion for student achievement, focus on building strong relationships, and dedication to supporting both students and staff make him an excellent fit to build on the success of the Bowie Volunteers,” Arlington ISD Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith said.
Edwards started his career as a middle school math teacher before moving into administration. His leadership background includes serving as an assistant principal at Southwest High School, dean of instruction at the Young Men’s Leadership Academy, and principal at Morningside Middle School before taking the helm at Dunbar in 2021.
According to the district, Edwards is an instructional leader with a track record in instructional turnaround efforts and implementing systems aligned to accountability goals. Edwards plans to reach out to staff, students, and families throughout July to connect and learn more about the school community.
The leadership transition follows a deadly campus shooting that occurred on April 24, 2024. The shooting happened just before dismissal, around 2:50 p.m., outside a portable classroom. Julian Howard, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to murdering 18-year-old student Etavion Barnes.
An After Action report obtained by WFAA through a public records request outlined several areas of improvement regarding the district’s response. The report identified issues with district radios not being aligned on the same channel, line management issues, and communication problems between the district and local law enforcement. Howard was sentenced to 40 years in prison, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney.
Specifically, the report noted that the Arlington Police Department “didn’t know who was in charge of the reunification and didn’t have clear communication of the chain of command.”
It also highlighted staffing challenges as the reunification process extended into the evening, stating “admin staff didn’t stay the whole time so as night wore on, fewer hands to help” and “not many teachers stayed to help with their kids.”
Arlington ISD Chief Operations Officer Michael Hill noted that the radio issues have since been fixed and emphasized the importance of ongoing preparation.
“I would much rather be prepared than not be prepared,” Hill said.
Students return to Bowie High School for the 2026-2027 school year on August 12.