Cathy E.
Garner, assistant principal at Carlisle-Foster’s Grove
Elementary, and Deana S. Watson, assistant principal at Chesnee
Elementary, will become principals at their respective schools
effective July 1, filling the positions vacated by retiring
principals Nicha Jordan (CFG) and Bob Ledford (CES). Garner and
Watson, as well as their spouses and children, are products of
District Two schools.
With a
history of service in District Two, Garner and Watson’s teaching
careers overlapped at Chesnee Elementary for several years
before Watson became assistant principal at Chesnee Elementary
and Garner eventually moved to Boiling Springs Elementary to
become an assistant principal.
Watson
obtained
Bachelor of Arts degrees in early childhood education and
elementary education at USC Upstate and earned a master’s degree
in Educational Leadership and Supervision through Converse
College in 2001.
Garner
acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary special
education at Winthrop University and received a master’s degree
in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Converse College
in 2005.
Cathy and
her husband, David, have a daughter, Cayley, who is a junior at
USC majoring in early childhood education. David works for Duke
Energy and coaches girls varsity basketball at Chesnee High
School, where his father, Moody Garner, coached.
Deana and
her husband, Jeff, have three children—Gracin, Luke, and Katie
Faith—currently attending Chesnee High, Chesnee Middle, and
Chesnee Elementary. Jeff is co-owner of Watson Furniture, a
three-generation family-owned business located in Chesnee.
In addition
to their professional and family activities, Garner and Watson
are involved in
church and community.
Garner teaches an adult Sunday School class at Arrowood Baptist;
Watson is junior high leader at First Baptist North
Spartanburg
and serves on the Carolina Foothills Artisan Center board of
directors.
