MICHAEL WATTS NAMED NEW BRENHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

  

A Brenham ISD alumnus has been named the next principal at Brenham Junior High School.

Tuesday night, the Brenham School Board unanimously approved the hiring of Michael Watts as the new principal for the junior high campus.  Watts has over 24 years of education experience, many of them in Brenham ISD, and he is currently an assistant principal at James Earl Rudder High School in Bryan.

Watts said he is eager to return to Brenham ISD and again serve Brenham students and the community.

 

Watts attended high school at what is presently Brenham ISD’s junior high school.  Starting in 2005, he served as the Brenham High School assistant principal, before being promoted in 2008 to associate principal, and in 2015 to principal of the Pride Academy campus.

Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said Watts “is an experienced school administrator that is familiar with Brenham and is already part of the Brenham community.”  He said Watts “has a passion for kids and building relationships with staff and parents to ensure student success.”

Watts fills the vacancy created by the resignation of former junior high school principal Jamie Rochell on April 4^th.  Watts will start his new role this summer.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved revisions to board policy pertaining to academic achievement – class ranking.  Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Brandi Hendrix said previously, junior high school students who took high school-credit courses would get credit for the courses, but their GPAs would also be affected.  With the change, students will receive the credit, but their GPAs will not be impacted.

In other action, the board:

• Approved teacher contracts in executive session.
• Approved an access agreement between the school district and the City of Brenham for an easement across the Brenham Middle School property. City of Brenham Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city is building a new parking lot at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center, and the agreement gives the ability for patrons to enter the parking lot off of Blue Bell Road.  As part of the agreement, a new sidewalk will be tied in to give students easier access to the Aquatic Center.
• Accepted a bid from Avinext of College Station for Promethean Active Panels for $772,618, using ESSER funding. This will add new interactive whiteboards to classrooms at each of the elementary schools and at Brenham Middle School.
• Approved the purchase of a Frontline Evaluation Suite software license for teacher and staff evaluations. The purchase is from Frontline Technologies Group for $52,814, and will be made using ESSER funds.
• Heard an annual report of board of trustee continuing education hours.