BEAUMONT, Texas — A brother/sister duo both grew up to become principals of Beaumont Independent School District schools.
"I only had one African American principal," said Audrey Collins, principal of Dishman Elementary.
Her brother, Joseph Bowser Jr. is the principal of Pathways Learning Center.
"Both of our parents worked for the district. We call it the family business," he said.
During the 2020-2021 school year 78.4% of school principals were non-Hispanic/white while only 9.5% were black or African American, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
"Soon we'll be sibling leaders both with doctorate degrees," Collins told 12News.
Walking down the halls of their respective schools as leaders didn't come easy.
Collins grew up a straight A student and graduated from West Brook High School and received a music scholarship from Sam Houston State University. She received her master's degree at Lamar University.
"There was an expectation... there's a clear cut pathway. His pathway kind of did that sometimes," she said.
Bowser's path was a little different.
His focus was football and being the class clown, but he soon learned there was more to life than the game.
"I got diagnosed with dyslexia my junior year of college. So, I went all the way through school trying to figure it out," he said.
After graduating from West Brook, Bowser graduated from Cicso Junior College and then obtained his bachelors at Texas A&M Commerce. Later received his master's from Lamar University.
"I have a speech impediment. I'm a stutterer. I had a reading disability. She actually used to read my homework to me," Bowser said.
Collins still looks out for her older brother to this day.
"Her opinion means a lot to me," he said.
Bowser is now in a leadership position just like his sister, impacting others.
"To be able to take a picture with somebody who people didn't think was going to go as far as he's gone. It makes me proud to stand in a picture with him as a leader," Collins said.
Both Bowser and Collins are back in school to receive a doctorate degree, inspiring their students.
"So that kids can see, that there isn't a limit," said Collins.