Introducing Detra Watson, Incoming Lower School Division Head

Introducing Detra Watson, Incoming Lower School Division Head
Amy Dempster


Carroll is thrilled to announce the appointment of Ms. Detra Watson as Carroll School’s next Lower School Division Head. She will succeed Sue Kingman and her 22 years of leadership in July 2023.

Detra was chosen from an incredible pool of highly qualified candidates following a national search. Thanks to the dedication of our Lower School community and the Search Committee, we were able to identify the qualities and commitments in our next Lower School Division Head. In Detra, we found an incredible combination of compassion, experience, and commitment to educators, students and their families.

Detra’s career includes extensive experience teaching in international schools on three different continents and in independent schools in the United States. Over the last 20 years, Detra taught grades kindergarten through five, led curricular and accreditation work, and coached and mentored teachers. Currently, Detra is the Director of Lower School at St. Anne’s School, a pre-K to 8th grade school in Annapolis, Maryland. Detra has led her division since 2019 with joy, empathy, and inclusivity.

In a recent conversation with Detra, she described the Lower School community as both passionate and knowledgeable where we “work on behalf of students with language-based learning differences with a clear plan to build hope, confidence, and a very bright future for each learner at Carroll.” I believe that Detra’s understanding of our community coupled with her strengths will allow her to lead from a position of strength.

Plans are underway to support a successful transition of leadership at the Lower School as well as opportunities to welcome Detra to the Carroll School community.



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