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Jim Watt stands next to a new two-color 3D printer with some of his creations on it that students use in Friday’s STEM class. Watt will retire at the end of this school year after 43 years of teaching and inspiring multiple generations of students. (Photo provided by Evan Hawk)
LISBON — After 43 years of teaching science and inspiring multiple generations of students, David Anderson Jr. Senior High School teacher Jim Watt will retire at the end of this school year.
Watt has called David Anderson home during his 38-year career and currently teaches Anatomy, Biology, STEM One, and STEM Two. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and is a hands-on course that teaches practical applications of technology.
In 2013, Watt took on the challenge of running a STEM program focused on 3D printing.
“When I started that program, it was like a shot in the arm.” Watt said Friday. “Biology at that time had become obsolete, so there was a renewed interest in education.”
Watt praised students in the STEM program for their outstanding efforts and mastery of technology.
“I’m currently teaching some of the brightest kids I’ve ever taught.” Watt said. “And I say that every year.”
Two STEM students, sophomores Lorraine Korda and Riley Tice, earned a Lisbon exemption last week for building a new two-color 3D printer right out of the box, programming the device and writing code. The award was given at a meeting of the village board of education. Create it and create a detailed user manual for anyone to use.
“The idea of STEM is that I’m not a teacher, I’m a facilitator.” Watt said.
In STEM, students also work on drone technology and compete in county scrimmages, flying a drone through hoops and landing on a target using only the drone’s camera.
“It’s fun. It’s cool.” Watt said.
He added that drone technology also has practical applications in the job market, mentioning students who have started their own businesses using drones to take aerial shots, videos and photos.
Watt was also recognized at last week’s meeting as the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year by the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools (CORAS), of which the Lisbon School District is a member.
Watt also received several Star Educator Awards from the Columbiana County Educational Service Center during his tenure.
“They are very special to me because they are high-achieving students who nominated me.” Watt said. “It shows me that I’m reaching that talented student.”
Watts grew up in East Palestine and graduated from Marietta College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a teaching certificate.
After three-and-a-half years in Marietta City Schools and a year at Liberty Middle School, Watt was hired by Lisbon Schools in 1985 and said he felt like, “I’m coming home.” He said he felt welcomed and supported from the moment he started and now considers many of the teachers and administrators to be his friends.
It is also his close relationships with his students and watching them grow and progress throughout their lives that has kept him in the education field for so long.
“It’s my good students that have kept me in education for 43 years. If they were all bad, I wouldn’t be here.” Watt said. “In my Advance Biology, I tell my students, ‘Look left, right, front, back, you’re looking at a doctor, you’re looking at a lawyer, you’re trying to save. You’re looking at a nurse.’ Your life.’ Year after year, we get them.”
He still keeps in touch with several of his students, including a biomechanical engineer who is a senior scientist at a pharmaceutical company and a chiropractor in Alaska. Watt said he receives a Christmas card every year from his former student and current fellow teacher, Meredith Deichler.
Watt coached track and field and cross country for 25 years at David Anderson Jr. High School, getting to know students outside of the classroom. “It was very rewarding.” He said.
“You get to know your students on a personal level through coaching, which you don’t often get in the classroom.” Watt said.
He said he loves the hometown feel of the school and community. About half of the current students have at least one parent who has attended the class. He also taught several current school personnel.
“I’m a second-year student now.” He said.
Though she has three older sisters who are now retired teachers, Watt initially had little idea of entering the education field herself.
“While I was in college, I worked on-campus in the education department, but I had no intention of becoming a teacher.” Watt said.
However, as I started working with students, I became more and more interested, and decided to pursue a teaching qualification in parallel with my studies in science and psychology.
Watt loved the outdoors from an early age, which led him to the fields of science and biology. He said that in another life, he might have become a forest ranger or wildlife officer, as many of his students have done.
“I’ve always been outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking. I still do,” Watt said.
“For decades, all my students have known this word: ‘Mr. Martin.'” Watt’s perfect world of biology: We go out every day, we dissect every day. Masu. It’s not a perfect world. ” He said.
The first step in Watt’s retirement plans is to move to Argentina in about a year to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.
“Everyone says, ‘We’ll know when the time comes.’ And we know the time has come.” Watt spoke about retiring after 43 years of teaching and inspiring students.
“There are so many warm, fuzzy, feel-good success stories. It’s not my success, it’s their success.” Watt said. “I’m just following them.”
ehouk@mojonews.com
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