November 4, 2024
The NWAIS Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Chris Watson has been selected to serve as the next NWAIS Executive Director as of July 1, 2025.
During the search process, the NWAIS Board, staff, and community of heads of schools completed surveys and participated in discussions to identify the key attributes that the
next executive director would need to lead our association. Those attributes include being a thought leader, a strategic thinker, and an effective communicator. We sought
an ED with a collaborative spirit who listens deeply and asks probing questions. They would be a synthesizer of information who is an optimist, accessible to others, and has
high EQ. Most of all, we were determined to find someone who would hold onto NWAIS values while rolling up their sleeves and digging into the work of school leadership with
each of us.
We found all of that in Chris Watson.
Chris has been a member of NWAIS since July 2011 when he joined Soundview School as Middle School Head and IB Coordinator. Chris became the Head of School in 2013. Over the
last decade, Chris has worked tirelessly to strengthen the school, leading the school not only through COVID, but also through a tuition reset that created financial sustainability
and led to a significant increase in enrollment. While leading Soundview, Chris was also a leader in the association. He has served on numerous board committees, co-chaired
several accreditation teams, and was secretary of the Board of Governors.
Beyond the experience Chris brings, he also brings a deep belief in the power of the NWAIS community. He was frequently referred to as a “culture keeper” for our association;
someone who understands, upholds, and models our values. We believe that the innovative, yet community centered approach that Chris has used to elevate Soundview will position
Chris to continue to elevate the work of NWAIS.
Chris will begin his tenure at NWAIS on July 1, 2025. Read his letter to the community to hear his excitement in his own words. If you’d like to send a note of congratulations,
he can be reached at cwatson@soundview.org.
NWAIS would like to extend thanks to the search committee for their leadership of this effort.
- Chair: Brenda Leaks, Seattle Girls’ School (WA)
- Jenn Elkin, Epiphany School (WA)
- Jim Brewer, The McGillis School (UT)
- Nick Cofod, Foothills School (ID)
- Steve Albert, Portland Jewish Academy (OR)
- Suzanne Messinger, Hyla School (WA)
We also extend thanks to Ben Pettit, NWAIS Board President and Head of School at Sun Valley Community School (ID), and to our search partners at Educators Collaborative.
