JENNIFER A. WATTS
Arlington,Texas
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
PRINCIPAL
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Dallas, TX
06.2010 - Current
- Provide administrative leadership for the largest Catholic elementary school in Texas, ensuring strong Catholic identity, academic excellence, and operational vitality for an average annual student population of over 850 students, maximum enrollment.
- Collaborate closely with the pastor, school president, School Advisory Committee, and the diocesan Catholic Schools Office to align school operations with diocesan goals, strategic plans, and TCCB ED compliance. Partner with development and advancement offices to support enrollment stability, donor engagement, and school vitality.
- Manage budgets, ensuring fiscal accountability and alignment with the school comptroller developing financial aid and scholarship opportunities in addition to excellent stewardship of all federal funding through title money and federal grants for COVID relief.
- Implement data-informed instructional practices and collaborate with curriculum leadership to support equitable access to high-quality education for all students and professional development for teachers to advance the mission of Catholic education.
- Design and oversee school safety and security programs, integrating law enforcement best practices, emergency preparedness, risk-management, and informed response protocol ensuring a safe and welcoming school environment. Serve on the Diocesan Safety and Security Committee.
- Mentor and develop school administrators and teacher leaders, strengthening leadership capacity within diocesan schools.
- Partner with development and advancement efforts to support enrollment stability, donor engagement, and institutional growth.
- Lead academic and operational improvement initiatives in collaboration with the pastor, parish leadership, school stakeholders, and diocesan offices utilizing long-range strategic planning focused on sustainability, enrollment growth, and responsible financial stewardship. Foster a faith-filled, service-centered school that reflects Gospel values and a strong Catholic Identity.
- Manage a faculty and staff of over 120 with responsible budgeting, critical staffing, and facilities planning to support long-term operational viability.
- Lead Middle-School Science Department, represented multiple academic and extracurricular clubs and organizations.
DEPARTMENT CHAIR/TEACHER
MARY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Farmers Branch, TX
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Teacher Lead and Community Outreach Facilitator. Providing grounded faith integrated curriculum and instruction as a religion and science teacher.
TEACHER
BLESSED SACRAMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
El Paso, TX
01.2000 - 01.2004
- Assisted Administration with hiring practices and managed teacher wellness programs. Provided instruction grounded in Catholic values while supporting student achievement and faith formation teaching religion, social studies, and fine arts.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
GALVESTON COUNTY SHERRIFF'S DEPT.
Galveston, TX
01.1993 - 01.2000
POLICE OFFICER
CITY OF GALVESTON POLICE DEPT.
Galveston, TX
01.1987 - 01.1993
Education
MASTER OF EDUCATION - EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION
LAMAR UNIVERSITY
01.2014
MASTER OF EDUCATION - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON
01.2010
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MINOR: SOCIAL-WORK)
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
01.1987
VCFFL Religion courses, Catholic Identity Course
University of Dayton
01.2025
Diocese of Dallas
Stager Educational Leadership Course
01.2025
Skills
- Catholic Identity and Faith Based Leadership
- Principal Mentorship and Leadership Development
- Diocesan Collaboration and School Alignment
- Strategic Planning and School Sustainability
- Academic Excellence and Data-Informed Instruction
- Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness
- Enrollment Growth and School Advancement
- Budget Management and Facility Management
- Fiscal Agency and Federal Budget Management
- Hiring Practices and HR Compliance
Timeline
PRINCIPAL
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
06.2010 - Current
DEPARTMENT CHAIR/TEACHER
MARY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
01.2004 - 01.2010
TEACHER
BLESSED SACRAMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
01.2000 - 01.2004
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
GALVESTON COUNTY SHERRIFF'S DEPT.
01.1993 - 01.2000
POLICE OFFICER
CITY OF GALVESTON POLICE DEPT.
01.1987 - 01.1993
MASTER OF EDUCATION - EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION
LAMAR UNIVERSITY
MASTER OF EDUCATION - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MINOR: SOCIAL-WORK)
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
VCFFL Religion courses, Catholic Identity Course
University of Dayton
Diocese of Dallas
Stager Educational Leadership Course