Laura Watson is bringing more than two decades of teaching experience and a passion for hands-on learning to her new position as a sixth-grade science teacher at the Allen County Intermediate Center (ACIC).
Watson is no stranger to Allen County Schools. During the 2025-2026 school year, she taught third grade at the Allen County Primary Center. She will make the move to ACIC for the 2026-2027 school year and is looking forward to returning to a subject she has enjoyed teaching throughout her career.
“I’m so excited to teach science,” Watson said.
Originally from Louisville, Watson graduated from Pleasure Ridge Park High School in 1999. She continued her education at Indiana University Southeast, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2003. She later earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and Gifted and Talented Education from Georgetown College.
Watson enters her 24th year in education with experience spanning kindergarten through high school. Her career began in 2003 at Hazelwood Elementary, where she taught kindergarten for two years. From 2005 through 2007, she taught fifth and first grades at Fordsville Elementary. She continued her career at Ashland Elementary from 2007 through 2010, serving as a first-grade teacher, a reading resource teacher for students in grades two through five and a fifth-grade gifted and talented teacher. During the 2010-2011 school year, she taught fifth grade at Russell Cave Elementary.
From 2011 through 2015, Watson taught fourth and fifth grades with an emphasis on writing at Meadowlands Elementary. She then spent four years at Carthage Intermediate Center, teaching fifth- and sixth-grade science and math. Watson moved into a curriculum coaching position at Mark Twain Elementary during the 2019-2020 school year while also working with gifted and talented students in grades nine through 12. From 2020 through 2025, she taught kindergarten and first-grade gifted and talented students at Russell Elementary before joining Allen County Schools.
Watson said becoming an educator was something she had wanted to do since childhood. Her mother worked as a school secretary, giving Watson many opportunities to spend time in a school setting and help teachers.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher,” Watson added. “My mom was a school secretary, and I loved being at the school helping the teachers.”
She also credits her fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Smallwood, with helping shape the kind of educator she wanted to become.
“Mr. Smallwood was an amazing fourth-grade teacher who helped build my confidence and made learning so much fun,” Watson said. “I want to do the same for my students.”
Students entering Watson’s science classroom can expect plenty of opportunities to investigate, experiment and discover new ideas.
“I want science to be fun and hands-on,” Watson explained. “We will learn new science concepts through exploration.”
Throughout her career, Watson has learned that successful teaching involves much more than presenting academic content. She believes strong relationships, consistent expectations and dependable routines create an environment where students can reach their full potential.
“I have learned how important relationships are for student success, as well as having clear and dependable classroom procedures,” Watson said. “When students know what to expect in the classroom and know you care, the sky’s the limit.”
Outside the classroom, Watson enjoys spending time with her husband, Shaun Watson, pastor of Scottsville Baptist Church. The couple has been married for 23 years and has two sons.
Their oldest son, Toby, is 19 and works through the Boilermakers union, traveling for his job. He enjoys welding and visiting new places. Their younger son, Taylor, is 16 and a junior at Allen County-Scottsville High School. Taylor plays soccer, serves as a kicker for the football team and competes in swimming. He also enjoys working out and refereeing soccer matches. The Watson family also includes two dogs, one cat and two snakes.
Traveling is one of the family’s favorite activities. Watson has visited Brazil, Egypt and numerous other destinations. She especially enjoys cruising in the Caribbean, and the family is planning a trip to Israel in May 2027. When they are at home, they enjoy taking on different house projects together.
As Watson begins the next chapter of her career at ACIC she hopes to combine her years of experience with engaging lessons that encourage students to explore the world around them.
Her goal is to create a classroom where students feel supported, know what is expected of them and discover that learning science can be both exciting and fun.