Spring ISD Superintendent To Step Down In January

SPRING, TX — Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson is stepping down in January to take a position at the state level, the district announced last week.

Watson, who was appointed superintendent in 2014, accepted the deputy executive director position at the Texas Association of School Boards, according to a district news release.

Watson recently oversaw a $330 million bond referendum and worked to improve programs in several areas during his tenure, including early childhood and special education, new teacher development and postsecondary preparedness. Watson received the 2021 Superintendent of the Year award from the National School Foundation Association.

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"I am deeply proud of all we have accomplished together as a team in Spring ISD for the benefit of the more than 33,000 students we serve every day," Watson said in the release. "I have worked shoulder to shoulder over the past seven years with a phenomenal board, excellent principals, central office administrators, and school staff to improve student outcomes — and I look forward to joining TASB to offer critical support needed for school districts across the state."

The Texas Association of School Boards is a nonprofit statewide education association serving over 1,000 Texas school boards. As deputy executive director, Watson will oversee several departments and initiatives and will guide large cross-functional projects to ensure an excellent experience for TASB members, according to a TASB news release.

"We’re thrilled to welcome Rodney to the TASB team, where he’ll be able to bring his many years of experience as an educator, administrator, and superintendent to serve students and school districts across the state," TASB Executive Director Dan Troxell said in the release. "Rodney knows firsthand the many challenges and opportunities facing school districts, and I’m confident that he will help elevate the support and resources our members expect from TASB."

The Spring ISD Board of Trustees hasn't met yet to set a timeline or target date for Watson's replacement, district spokesperson Kristen Cobb told Patch.

“I want to thank Dr. Watson for his past seven years of service to Spring ISD. As a board, my fellow trustees and I are grateful for his steady leadership and wish him well in the next chapter of his career,” Spring ISD Board President Rhonda Newhouse said in the release. “Looking forward, we are committed to the planning process to select the next new dynamic leader of Spring ISD.”