In Her Element(ary): Star Watson
STAR WATSON
B.A. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, TA TO TEACHERS PROGRAM
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I know a lot of people say that, but I’ve wanted to teach since I was a little girl.”
You would never catch Star Watson unprepared. Teacher briefcase packed for every potential situation, a “we’re gonna work through it” attitude, and a Charlotte green blazer that clearly meant business, she was ready for whatever the day might bring, and ready to share her why.
She opened up right away about her Charlotte background – she’s a city native, a mother and grandmother, and a Residence Life employee here on campus. Most importantly, with everything on her plate, she had previously only been able to take one class a semester.
TA to Teachers Program Director Dr. Debra Diegmann noticed Watson in one of her classes and became determined to find a way to help – at that rate, finishing her degree could take ten years or more. She worked to get permission to bring Watson into the TA to Teachers program, despite not meeting the traditional requirements. Her passion for teaching was plain to see – North Carolina classrooms need more teachers like her, and fast.
Diegmann developed a special bond with Watson, even going along with her supervisor for one of her student teaching observations. “With elementary students, Star is in her element.”
Watson was floored when Diegmann came to her observation. “I almost cried like a baby! It meant so much, you don’t even know, the little things that people do that go above and beyond.”
She elaborated that support from Cato College faculty, especially Diegmann and her University Supervisor, Whitney Settlemier, was a big part of what got her through to graduation. “They pushed me. On my long nights, they would tell me, ‘We’re proud of you. Keep going.’ Without their support, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Settlemier emphasized the deep connections Watson makes with her students. “Through storytelling and consistent questioning, she authentically connects topics to their everyday lives. She honors her students as individuals and celebrates their uniqueness. From the first time I observed Star teaching, I knew she was where she was meant to be.”
And she will continue to be: she’s been offered a teaching position for next school year, after she finishes her final semester in Charlotte Residence Life. She felt the need to honor her Niner students as well, knowing she couldn’t leave them mid-year in good conscience. But come August, she’ll be working in an elementary school nearby.
With such a strong bond between them, Diegmann has had a front-row seat for Watson’s love for the classroom and passion for education, and feels honored to have been part of her journey. “It is now her turn to become the teacher she has always dreamed of.”