Anne Watson
{{short description|American teacher and politician}}
{{about|the American physics teacher and politician|the British mathematics teacher and education academic|Anne Watson (mathematics educator)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Anne Watson
|image = Anne Watson.jpg
|caption = Watson in 2020
|state_senate = Vermont
|district = Washington
|term_start = January 4, 2023
|term_end =
|predecessor = Anthony Pollina
|alongside = Ann Cummings, Andrew Perchlik
|successor =
|office1 = Mayor of Montpelier
|term_start1 = March 7, 2018
|term_end1 = December 21, 2022
|predecessor1 = John Hollar
|successor1 = Jack McCullough
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1981}}
|birth_place = Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|otherparty = Progressive
|education = Pennsylvania State University, University Park (BA)
University of Vermont (MA)
}}
Anne E. Watson (born 1981){{cite magazine |date=2018 |title=Interview, Anne Watson |url=http://events.vermontbiz.com/anne-watson/ |magazine=Vermont Business Magazine |location=South Burlington, VT |publisher=John Boutin |access-date=April 26, 2019}} is an American educator and politician who has served as a Democratic / Progressive member of the Vermont Senate since January 2023. She served as Mayor of Montpelier, Vermont, from March 2018 to March 2023.{{sfn|WCAX|2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.montpelier-vt.org/258/City-Council-Mayor |title=City Council & Mayor |publisher=City of Montpelier, Vermont |accessdate=30 April 2018 }}{{cite news |date=May 23, 2005 |title=University of Vermont Graduates List |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press/116886406/ |work=The Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=7A |via=Newspapers.com}} Watson is a physics teacher at Montpelier High School.{{Cite web| title = An Interview with Montpelier's New Mayor, Anne Watson | work = The Bridge| accessdate = April 30, 2018| date = April 19, 2018| url = http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2018/04/an-interview-with-montpeliers-new-mayor-anne-watson/ | ref = {{harvid|Bridge|2018}}}} She served on the Montpelier city council for several years before running unopposed for mayor in late 2017.{{cite news|title=Montpelier Council President Running Unopposed for Mayor|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/council-president-running-unopposed-for-montpelier-mayor/|accessdate=30 April 2018|work=Seattle Times|agency=Associated Press|date=February 13, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Anne Watson to Run for Mayor of Montpelier|url=https://vermontbiz.com/news/2017/november/07/anne-watson-run-mayor-montpelier|accessdate=30 April 2018|work=Vermont Business Magazine|date=November 7, 2017}}
In 2010, Watson launched an eventually successful campaign with the Vermont Youth Ultimate League to recognize Ultimate Frisbee as an official varsity-level sport in Vermont's high schools.
In April 2018, Watson was named in a blog article on the REI website as one of "five of the coolest mountain-city mayors" in the United States.{{cite news|first=Joe |last=Cutts |title=5 of the Coolest Mountain-Town Mayors |url=https://www.rei.com/blog/news/5-of-the-coolest-mountain-town-mayors |work=REI |date=2018-04-26 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426221405/https://www.rei.com/blog/news/5-of-the-coolest-mountain-town-mayors |archivedate=2018-04-26 |url-status=live}}
In November 2018, Watson was named to Vermont Business Magazine’s rising star “40 under 40 list.”
Biography
Anne Elizabeth Watson was born in Burlington, Vermont and raised in nearby Essex.{{cite web |url=https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2024/37411 |title=Biography, Senator Anne Watson |date=2023 |website=legislature.vermont.gov |publisher=Vermont General Assembly |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=July 3, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/JOURNAL/sj230104.pdf |title=Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont, Biennial Session, 2023 |date=January 4, 2023 |website=legislature.vermont.gov |publisher=Vermont Senate |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=July 3, 2023 |page=2}} She is a 1999 graduate of Essex High School.{{cite news |date=June 20, 1999 |title=Class of 1999 High School Graduations: Essex High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-watson/127572237/ |work=The Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=4B |via=Newspapers.com}} She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics, with a minor in physics, from Penn State University in 2003. Watson next enrolled at the University of Vermont, where she completed a one-year master's degree in secondary education with a specialty in science.
=Teacher=
Watson joined the faculty of Montpelier High School as a physics teacher in 2004.
Watson having completed 5 years fellowship became a Senior Fellow at the Knowles Teacher Initiative.{{cite web|title=Anne Watson: Senior Fellow|url=https://knowlesteachers.org/bios/anne-watson|website=Knowles Teacher Initiative|accessdate=1 May 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://knowlesteachers.org/faq|title=Fellowship FAQs - Fellowship Program & Eligibility {{!}} Knowles|work=Knowles Teacher Initiative|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}} In 2010 she received certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and became one of the 118,000 certified teachers in America. 3.3% of American teachers are board certified.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbpts.org/national-board-certification/overview/|title=National Board Certification Overview |work=National Board for professional Teaching Standards site|access-date=2018-05-03|language=en-US}}{{cite news|title=Montpelier Teacher Earns Prestigious Certification|url=https://www.timesargus.com/articles/montpelier-teacher-earns-prestigious-certification/|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=Barre Montpelier Times Argus|date=December 23, 2010}}
In 2015, Watson appeared before the State Education Committee to advocate for a plan in which students from China would spend a year in Montpelier, attending the local high school. She proposed that the students would be housed in the dormitories of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.{{cite news|last1=Nixon|first1=Amy Ash|title=International Students may Help Fill Empty School Chairs|url=https://vtdigger.org/2015/03/09/international-students-may-help-fill-empty-school-chairs/|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=VTDigger|publisher=Vermont Journalism Trust|date=March 9, 2015}} She received a Rowland Foundation Fellowship to further work on this proposal.{{cite web|title=Grants Awarded|url=http://www.therowlandfoundation.org/grants_awarded.shtml|website=The Rowland Fellowship|accessdate=1 May 2018}}
=Coach and sports activist =
Watson coaches Ultimate (once known as Ultimate Frisbee).{{cite news|last1=Ring|first1=Wilson|title=Vermont First State to Recognize "Ultimate" as Varsity Sport|url=http://www.gazettenet.com/Vermont-first-state-to-recognize-Ultimate-as-varsity-sport-13578228|accessdate=30 April 2018|work=Daily Hampshire Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=November 6, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004809/http://www.gazettenet.com/Vermont-first-state-to-recognize-Ultimate-as-varsity-sport-13578228 |archivedate=2018-05-01 |url-status=live}} Under her coaching, the Men's Ultimate team advanced to the Vermont finals five times from 2010 to 2017.
In 2010, Watson launched a campaign with the Vermont Youth Ultimate League to recognize Ultimate as an official varsity-level sport in Vermont's high schools. Watson, who had played Ultimate in college and coaches the sport at Montpelier High School, led a seven year state lobbying effort on behalf of the sport.{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Mills |title=Watson to run unchallenged for Capital City mayor |url=https://www.timesargus.com/articles/watson-to-run-unchallenged-for-capital-city-mayor/ |work=Barre Montpelier Times Argus |date=2018-02-12 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506115437/https://www.timesargus.com/articles/watson-to-run-unchallenged-for-capital-city-mayor/ |archivedate=2018-05-06 |url-status=live}} Her efforts proved successful on November 3, 2017, when the Vermont Principals Association, which supervises the state's high school sports programs, unanimously approved Ultimate as a full varsity sport, beginning in the Spring 2019 season. The approval made Vermont the first state in the country to recognize Ultimate as a varsity sport.{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Mills |title=Vermont schools catch Ultimate Frisbee |url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/vt-schools-catch-ultimate-frisbee/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Rutland Herald |date=2017-11-07 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506123709/http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/vt-schools-catch-ultimate-frisbee/ |archivedate=2018-05-06 |url-status=live}} The approval ensures that players are not charged to participate, and that coaches are paid and provided with safety training.
Watson has been widely credited with Ultimate's landmark varsity recognition through her campaign.{{cite news|first=Charlie|last=Eisenhood |title=Vermont Becomes First State To Approve Ultimate As High School Varsity Sport |url=https://ultiworld.com/2017/11/03/vermont-becomes-first-state-approve-ultimate-high-school-varsity-sport/ |work=Ultiworld |date=2017-11-03 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110210219/https://ultiworld.com/2017/11/03/vermont-becomes-first-state-approve-ultimate-high-school-varsity-sport/ |archivedate=2017-11-10 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Vermont recognizes "ultimate" Frisbee as high school varsity sport |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/Vermont-recognizes-ultimate-Frisbee-as-high-school-varsity-sport_162393069/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Tampa Bay Times |date=2017-11-06 |access-date=2018-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506130354/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/Vermont-recognizes-ultimate-Frisbee-as-high-school-varsity-sport_162393069 |archive-date=2018-05-06 |url-status=live}}
=Political career=
Watson entered politics in 2012 when she was appointed to the vacant District 2 seat on the Montpelier City Council. She served three terms on the city council from 2012 until she left office to become mayor in 2018.
On November 2, 2017, three-term incumbent Montpelier Mayor John Hollar announced that he would not seek re-election to a fourth term in the March 2018 mayoral election.{{cite news|first=Mike |last=Polhamos |title=Montpelier's Mayor Hollar won't seek another term |url=https://vtdigger.org/2017/11/01/montpeliers-mayor-hollar-wont-seek-another-term/ |work=VTDigger |date=2017-11-01 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111185913/https://vtdigger.org/2017/11/01/montpeliers-mayor-hollar-wont-seek-another-term/ |archivedate=2018-01-11 |url-status=live}} Watson, who was serving as President of the Montpelier City Council, announced her candidacy on November 6.{{cite news|title=Anne Watson Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Montpelier |url=http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2017/11/anne-watson-announces-candidacy-for-mayor-of-montpelier/ |work=The Bridge |date=2017-11-06 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107083824/http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2017/11/anne-watson-announces-candidacy-for-mayor-of-montpelier/ |archivedate=2017-11-07 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Polhamos |title=Montpelier council president making run at mayoral vacancy |url=https://vtdigger.org/2017/11/06/montpelier-council-president-making-run-mayoral-vacancy/ |work=VTDigger |date=2017-11-06 |accessdate=2018-05-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202142757/https://vtdigger.org/2017/11/06/montpelier-council-president-making-run-mayoral-vacancy/ |archivedate=2018-02-02 |url-status=live}}
Watson campaigned on a platform with a focus on finances, infrastructure, the environment, and development. "Montpelier is a place where we have twice as many jobs as residents, and that's not even adjusting for job-age residents,” Watson says. “Many more people commute here to work than live here, and if we can make it more affordable and accessible for people to live here, it’ll help reduce carbon emissions. If we can enhance recreational options so they don't have to drive far to get to them, that will also help." Watson was elected on March 6, 2018.
Publications
- {{cite journal|title=Asking Authentic Questions with Tangible Consequences |last= Watson |first=Anne |journal=The Science Teacher |volume=74 |issue=4 |date=April–May 2007 |url=https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-169164647/asking-authentic-questions-with-tangible-consequences}}
- {{cite journal|url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/1d583d4b6c74b7391b82beaa69186bda/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=40590|title=Students for Sustainable Energy |last1=Toolin |first1=Regina |last2= Watson |first2=Anne |journal=The Science Teacher |volume=77 |issue=4 |date=April–May 2010 |pages= 27–31}}
- {{cite journal |title=Conducting Sustainable Energy Projects in Secondary Science Classrooms |doi=10.1080/00368120903383158 |date=8 July 2010 |journal=Science Activities |pages=47–53 |volume=47 |issue=2 |first1=Regina |last1=Toolin |last2= Watson |first2=Anne |s2cid=144794050 }}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
Works cited
- {{Cite web| title = Watson takes over as Montpelier mayor| work = WCAX| accessdate = April 29, 2018| date = March 16, 2018| url = http://www.wcax.com/content/news/Watson-takes-over-as-Montpelier-Mayor-477128363.html | ref = {{harvid|WCAX|2018}}}}
External links
- Official website
- {{Cite web| title = Anne Watson for Mayor – Montpelier, VT – Vote March 6, 2018| accessdate = April 29, 2018| url = http://www.watsonformontpelier.com/}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=John Hollar}}
{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Montpelier|years=2018–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Jack McCullough}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Anne}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Vermont
Category:21st-century Vermont politicians
Category:American sports coaches
Category:American women educators
Category:Eberly College of Science alumni
Category:Educators from Vermont
Category:Mayors of Montpelier, Vermont
Category:People from Essex, Vermont
Category:Sports coaches from Vermont
Category:Ultimate (sport) players
Category:University of Vermont alumni
Category:Vermont city council members