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Jeremy Watt: Teacher Spotlight

February 11, 2022

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Help us celebrate Mr. Jeremy Watt, High School Science Teacher, Curriculum Director, and Junior High Football and Track Coach. Today is Mr. Watt's birthday! 

Mr. Watt has been in education for 23 years. He has enjoyed serving at Putnam County for 18 of those years. 

When asked what or who inspired Mr. Watt to pursue a career in education, this is what he had to say:

"Coach Miller was probably the one who influenced me the most, even though he probably didn't realize it at the time. Coach Miller taught high school science and was my football line coach during my sophomore and junior years in Mexico, MO. My parents also were both teachers, and that certainly didn't hurt as a positive influence. I saw that they truly wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of students."

When we asked Mr. Watt about his journey to education, he said, "I left Unionville with no definite career plans. I graduated from Putnam County High School in 1992 and thought I might want to write Sunday School curriculum. I attended Ozark Christian College in Joplin to earn an Associate in Bible and Secondary Education. While there, I began work on my teaching degree at Missouri Southern State University. I worked at a local funeral home part-time during those years, and eventually attended funeral service college in Atlanta, GA. I signed my first teaching contract in the Atlanta airport (my first principal had a layover there), and my first salary in 1999 was $18,880. I took my funeral college finals early so that I could begin teaching, and began my first year of teaching at East Newton High School in Granby, MO while simultaneously serving my funeral director and embalming apprenticeships at the funeral home in Joplin. I had never seen my classroom or been to the school before my first day there! I taught Physical Science and Physics that year and absolutely loved it. My coaching career began after my funeral apprenticeship was over, and I soon fell in love with and am still passionate about coaching football."

Jeremy is married to Haley Watt and together they have 4 boys, Boaz (2020 PCHS graduate, Jude (a sophomore at PCHS), Angstrom (8th-grade), and Gus (5th-grade). In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and fishing with all the boys, coaching or cheering for them at their sporting events, vacationing with family and making memories, and spending time with family and friends. 

When he's not in the classroom or coaching, you can often find Mr. Watt serving in some way at school, church, his community, family, and friends.

Thank you for returning to Putnam to become a #HomegrownHero, Mr. Watt. Enjoy your birthday and thank you for putting your heart into education!

#PutnamProud #LoveTeaching