Alumnus Greg Bower, Ed.D., was named the lone finalist for the position of superintendent of the Union Grove Independent School District in December 2025.

Bower graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M) in 2021 with an M.S. in English. He also holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Texas at Tyler, as well as a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.

Union Grove ISD, located in Upshur County in East Texas, serves nearly 750 students across three schools. Before being chosen to lead the district, Bower, a 1992 graduate of Union Grove High School, held leadership positions at several Texas school districts and boasts nearly 30 years of service in public education. His accolades as a leader in education include being named Region 8 Superintendent of the Year in 2020 and Texas Rural Education Association State Superintendent of the Year in 2024.

The Union Grove school board voted unanimously to hire Bower on Dec. 11, 2025. He is expected to assume the role on April 1, 2026.