Principal
Crystal Watson
Crystal Watson was born and spent her elementary years in Cincinnati before moving to West Chester, Ohio. She attended Mt. Airy and North Fairmount Elementary Schools before moving and graduating from Lakota West High School in 2001. After high school, Principal Watson attended Northern Kentucky University and University of Cincinnati to get her bachelors and first masters degrees. After transitioning to teaching, Principal Watson attended Columbia University Teachers College where she obtained her second masters degree in Educational Leadership and principal licensure. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Miami University Ohio.
After deciding to leave the corporate sector, Principal Watson acquired a teaching license and spent her time in the classroom at Hartwell Elementary teaching 7th and 8th grade math. Hartwell was the place where she learned and grew as an instructionally-centered educator with a passion for listening to students in order to improve teacher instruction and their own academic outcomes. She then moved into a leadership role as a Mathematics Instructional Partner (Coach) in the district where she worked with teachers across grade levels to improve instruction and curriculum implementation. Directly before taking on the role at Rockdale Academy, Principal Watson was the assistant principal at Rees E. Price Academy where she learned what it meant to deeply love and support a diverse community.
Principal Watson's motto is "what do the students think?" She prides herself on always making time to hear different perspectives, including the children, in order to make decisions. She is committed to partnering with teachers and families to support each child that enters the doors at Rockdale Academy. At Rockdale, everyone is welcome and encouraged to be involved. Our community partnerships are invaluable as they all add to the beauty of our community.
Principal Watson lives in North Avondale and is invested in the Avondale community and Cincinnati. She and her spouse have a 13 year old son who attends SCPA and a dog who has no job but demands all the attention. When Principal Watson is not at school you can catch her attending events or activities for her son, hanging with her family, or catching a nap in her cozy home. Her ultimate goal is to ensure every student, including her own son, has the opportunity and resources to be great everyday!