In the heart of Bowler, Wisconsin, where a single building houses an entire school district—from daycare to high school—Donald King is doing far more than coordinating Title VI Indian Education. He’s nurturing a movement. A 2024-2025 Dreamstarter Teacher through Running Strong for American Indian Youth, King is driven by a powerful mission: to elevate Native voices, culture, and dreams in his community.
A School with Deep Roots and Rising Hope
The Bowler School District serves a richly diverse student population, with 44 percent identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native, including representation from the Stockbridge-Munsee, Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Lac Courte Oreilles, Bad River-Ojibwe, La Jolla Band of Luiseno, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa tribes. For these students, King’s work is more than programming—it’s personal and transformational.
“Our aim is to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Native American culture within our school community through literature, art, and visual representation,” says Donald.
The Dreamstarter Vision: Nurturing Native Voices
His Dreamstarter project, “Nurturing Native Voices: Empowering Indigenous Culture Through Representation,” is an ambitious effort to weave cultural understanding throughout school life. The project’s core goals include:
- Cultivating cultural awareness through Native literature and art
- Promoting representation in library collections and visual spaces
- Empowering student engagement via art, book clubs, awareness campaigns, and service
- Showing students the college and career options available to them.
To bring these goals to life, King has organized dynamic activities: showcasing Native literature, inviting Indigenous guest speakers, and arranging educational field trips that root students in their cultural heritage and future possibilities.
A Field Trip to the Future
One of the most powerful moments this year was a 700-mile field trip to Kansas. In early April, seven Bowler students traveled with King to visit Haskell Indian Nations University, where Running Strong co-founder and Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills first attended college, and the University of Kansas, Billy’s alma mater. The experience opened doors and expanded minds.
“The trip was a fantastic chance to explore college campuses and learn about higher education opportunities, especially for Native American students,” King shared.
“Throughout the day, the group received insightful presentations… offering valuable information about academic programs, scholarships, and student life.”
The visit was not only a tour of campuses but a tangible vision of what’s possible. It showed students that their aspirations have roots and wings.
A Journey Born from Resilience
Donald’s path to education wasn’t straightforward. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he spent nearly three decades in engineering before being laid off due to outsourcing. That twist of fate led him back to a long-standing desire:
“I had intended to be a teacher at one point in my life, so I decided to start working for the school district as I have a desire to help young people succeed in their lives.”
From assisting Title VI students to becoming the program’s coordinator, Donald now guides not only through lesson plans but through lived experience, perseverance, and compassion.
Representation, Recognition, and Radiance
In Donald King’s classroom—and beyond—education is not just about academics. It’s about honoring where you come from, envisioning where you’re going, and being seen every step of the way.
“These students have a huge range of potential, and it is enjoyable to watch them figure things out and succeed,” says Donald.
As he continues to lead with heart and purpose, King’s work reminds us that when you nurture identity, you empower achievement.
“We believe that by investing in their cultural identity and educational journey, we can empower them to succeed academically and thrive in all aspects of their lives.”
Donald is just one of many Running Strong Dreamstarter Teachers who are elevating the voices of native students for the future.
