East Porter County School Corporation Board member Natalie Bowersock was remembered by colleagues on Thursday as “deeply committed” and “passionate” about education and her family.
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Bowersock died Wednesday, her family and school officials confirmed. Her cause of death wasn’t immediately known. She is survived by her husband, Scott, and four young children.
The family has set up a fundraising page to help Bowersock’s husband pay for funeral costs and outstanding medical expenses.
“Natalie was a beautiful light in the lives of her family and her many wonderful friends. Her loss has left all who knew and loved her heartbroken,” according to the GoFundMe page. “The days ahead will be challenging as Scott and his family navigate the emotional and financial burdens that come with such a sudden loss.”
Bowersock began her first term on the board in January 2025. She worked at the district as a special education teacher for five years, and her husband is a longtime teacher and basketball coach in the district.
School Board President Richard McSparin said in a statement that after Bowersock joined the board she “immediately poured her heart and energy into the work of the district.”
“She was deeply committed to doing what she believed was best for students, families and staff, and she brought a passionate voice to our board conversations. Her passing is a heartbreaking loss for our community,” McSparin said.
McSparin shared his condolences to her husband and four children.
“Natalie cared deeply for her family, and it was evident in everything she did,” McSparin said. “We are grateful for her service, her dedication, and the impact she made during her time with us.”
School board member Robert Martin said Bowersock was “passionate about everything she did.”
“She loved her kids. She loved her husband. She was a proponent for teachers, so she will be missed,” Martin said.
East Porter County School Corporation Superintendent Reid Amones said he met Bowersock a couple of times during his interview process before he was hired to start at the district July 1. The school board also had its July meeting, where Amones said he worked with Bowersock.
Amones said it was clear that Bowersock cared about the district’s students, teachers and staff.
“She was very passionate about our school corporation,” Amones said. “She was very committed.”
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Bowersock’s time on the board occasionally put her at odds with the district.
In September 2025, Bowersock was censured by her fellow board members for eight violations, including that she “has overstepped her role as a board member on numerous occasions and attempted to act in an administrative, not policy-making capacity,” according to Post-Tribune archives.
She didn’t attend the meeting she was censured in, but watched it, and told the Post-Tribune afterward that the move was taken without the board members asking her side of the story.
“Where’s my due process?” Bowersock said.
Prior to the censure, Bowersock sued the board, the district and former Superintendent Aaron Case over a no-trespass warning against her at Washington Township Middle School, which her children attend. She also filed a tort claim involving her son being injured by another student at the school last spring.
In February 2025, Bowersock filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding what she believes to have been sexist treatment on the board. A district employee also filed a formal harassment complaint of harassment against her, according to Post-Tribune archives.
The board has 30 days to fill the vacant position on the board and the members can choose to either have people apply for the position and come in for interviews or the members can appoint a new member they know is interested, Amones said.
In the past, Martin said the board has filled vacancies by interviewing those interested in the position before selecting a new member.