The Region 5 Leadership Team is pleased to announce that Ms. Elizabeth Watson has been named the new principal of McNair Primary Elementary School!

Ms. Watson holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education and Arts in Reading from West Virginia University and an Education Specialist Certificate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Ms. Watson has 5 years of experience serving as the assistant principal of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School (2018-2022) and Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Communicative Arts (2022-present). Prior to becoming an assistant principal, Ms. Watson served as a Lead Special Education Teacher and Lead Kindergarten teacher at Fairfax Villa ES and Olde Creek ES, respectively.

Currently, Ms. Watson serves as the Assistant Principal of Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Communicative Arts. The majority of Ms. Watson’s administrative experience has been at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts & Sciences. During her time at Bailey’s, Ms. Watson facilitated the use of EDSL, and other important tools, to efficiently analyze data from common formative and summative assessments. This work helped teachers make informed instructional decisions resulting in significant student achievement gains on the Reading SOL and other assessment tools.

Ms. Watson also led the development of a weekly family engagement series called “BUpper Weekly Parent Conversations” to support family engagement, social-emotional learning, understanding of academics, and building home-to-school relationships/ communication. In addition, she developed a weekly community news outlet that was in English and Spanish to connect families with school-wide initiatives, valuable information around the learning environment, instructional practices, family engagement, and school celebrations. Ms. Watson led the development of, and provided collaborative leadership for, the School Innovation and Improvement Plan by analyzing data to support school goals and action steps to increase schoolwide student achievement and social-emotional wellbeing. In addition, she led the design/construction of the school-wide master schedule and staff survey to ensure they reflected the school’s SIIP, mission, and vision. 

In addition to her administrative experiences, Ms. Watson has served the district in various capacities. She currently serves as a member of the Fairfax Association of Elementary School Principals (FAESP). Ms. Watson has also served as a panel member for the FCPS School Based Administrator Induction Program I Cohort and has been an instructor for various professional development sessions and teacher education programs here in FCPS and for West Virginia University.  Ms. Watson has been recognized by her colleagues for her leadership capabilities.  She was the recipient of the Outstanding Leader Award at Woodburn Elementary School (2022-2023) and Bailey’s Upper Elementary School (2021-2022).   She was also a nominee for the Outstanding Teacher Award at Olde Creek Elementary School (2018). 

Outside of school, Ms. Watson has a passion for the fine and creative arts, dancing, and performing ballet.  She cherishes spending time with her family, traveling, exploring new foods, and reading.   

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Liz Watson as the new principal of McNair Elementary School! She starts her new position on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.