Wes Watts is in his 30th year overall in public education and 8th as the Superintendent of Schools in West Baton Rouge Parish. His previous 22 years of experience include serving on a high school campus as a Science Teacher, Head Basketball Coach, Assistant Football Coach, Dean of Students, Athletics Director, Assistant Principal and Principal. In 2014, his 4th year as the Principal of Zachary High School, Wes was selected to be the Superintendent in neighboring West Baton Rouge Parish. He has served in several leadership positions including Rotary Club President, Region II Superintendents Chairman, and for the past four years he has served as an officer for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. We served as LASS President in 2020-2021. That same year Wes was selected as the Region II Superintendent of the Year.
Coming from a family of educators, Wes is passionate about using his education platform to impact the lives of young people the way his teachers and coaches impacted him. Relationships are the key to helping students succeed and he cherishes the opportunities to see former students being successful parents, business owners, employees, and especially teachers. Wes is also passionate about changing the narrative about education so we can attract talented, influential, caring students to the education profession. Education in America is not broken, but we must continue to improve student outcomes by putting strong leaders and high-quality teachers in every school.
Wes received his Bachelor of Science degree from McNeese State University in 1992 where he played quarterback on the football team from 1987-1991. He received his Master of Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996. He recently founded and is the cohost of Testimonies Over Test Scores, a school leadership podcast.
Past AASA Louisiana Superintendent of the Year Winners:
2021 Louisiana Superintendent of the Year: Sheldon Jones
2020 Louisiana Superintendent of the Year: Kelli Joseph
About the Superintendent of the Year:
As a sponsor of the superintendent of the Year program, First Student wants to recognize these leaders in a special way this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the disruption that has affected all education systems but also the innovative approaches that the superintendents and school districts addressed through radio, television, zoom and take-home packages. These superintendents are the very best in public education and are needed more than ever during this crisis.
About the Award:
The superintendent of the Year program, sponsored by First Student and AASA, The School superintendents Association, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools.
State level winners are selected on the following criteria:
- Leadership for Learning
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Community Involvement