The primary mission of the Donald R. Watson School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is to develop highly competent professionals to serve in teaching and other educational leadership roles in southeastern North Carolina, the state, and nation. The Watson School is committed to achieving excellence in teacher and administrator preparation in all of its programs. To realize the mission of the Watson School, thorough grounding in theoretical and empirical bodies of knowledge is provided, the educator's capacity to utilize knowledge to improve schools and enhance learning by children and youth is developed, and commitment to personal, professional and institutional development is fostered.
The Watson School of Education fulfills its obligation to serve the field of public education through support of individual faculty, public school leaders, educational systems, and state and national organizations engaged in efforts to develop policy, implement improved practice, and set new directions at local, state, and national levels. This obligation is addressed through commitment to general research, evaluation, policy analysis and development, collaboration to provide relevant public school experiences and programs, and other forms of technical and professional assistance.
The faculty of the Watson School of Education strives to demonstrate: excellence in teaching; engagement in the generation and dissemination of knowledge; infusion of technology as an instructional tool; development of new roles and relationships in the institution of education; and inquiry, continuous learning, creativity, and the valuing of diversity. As part of the commitment to excellence, the Watson School of Education engages in continuous assessment of individual, program, and institutional outcomes.
(Adopted 4/93; Revised 6/96, 12/00)
On April 12, 1994, the School of Education at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington was named in memory of Donald R. Watson. A noted Wilmington businessman and community leader, Donald R. Watson believed that the future of the Cape Fear region was tied to the quality of education provided to our children. He acted on this belief by providing generous gifts of his time and financial resources to The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, particularly the School of Education.
Mr. Watson was born in Kenly, N.C., fought on Okinawa as a Marine Corps corporal during World War II and studied accounting at Elon College. In 1967, he purchased Pepsi of Wilmington and nine years later he and his business partner, Carl Brown, formed Carolina Bottlers which was later changed to Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Wilmington. The company was sold to PepsiCo Inc. in 1988.
In 1993 and 1994, he made significant financial contributions to UNCW to
advance the teaching profession and public education. In recognition of his
generosity and commitment to education as the foundation of a quality life,
the University dedicated the Donald R. Watson School of Education to perpetuate
his vision.