Lindsey Watson Potts, left, has joined her father, Richard Watson, as a teacher in the
Miller Grove High School Vocational Agriculture Department, and they make the only
father-daughter ag teaching team in the state of Texas.
Hopkins County Has Only
Father-Daughter Ag Teaching Duo
In State of Texas
by: Bobby McDonald
It was 40 years ago, this fall, that Richard Watson was the beginning vocational agriculture teacher at his hometown high school of Sulphur Springs. Little did he know, in 1969, that some day his daughter would be joining him in the classroom as the only father-daughter team of teachers, in the State of Texas. Watson and his daughter, Lindsey Watson Potts, are the vocational agriculture teachers at Miller Grove High School.
"Man, lots of water has run under the bridge, since 1969!" exclaimed Watson. "I'm teaching loads of second generation students, that I had their parents in the classroom, and if I continue for very long, they're soon to be starting on the third generation!"
Lindsey Watson Potts had been reared with her father teaching vocational agriculture and seen the many late night's traveling to and from stock shows, seen the deadlines before record book degree checks, and the hours of practice that it took to train a leadership or judging team. She'd even been a student in her father's classroom, before graduating from Miller Grove High School, in 1999. But, she'd decided she wanted no part of the hectic schedules, late night activities, and accompanying students to all the functions. "Don't ever say 'never,' about anything!" exclaimed Lindsey. "Three years ago, when I married and started thinking about having a family, suddenly the life that I'd been afforded as a child, looked much more appealing!"
There was an opening at Miller Grove High School to join her father in the vocational agriculture department, in the summer of 2006, and Lindsey Potts decided to apply for the position. "I was hired and Dad and I became one of two father-daughter teams in the state, teaching vocational agriculture," advised Lindsey. "Since that time, the other duo has since quit teaching!"
Lindsey's college degree was in plant and soil science and horticultural science, with a minor in floral design. "Lindsey's college emphasis complemented my major interests and allowed the students here at Miller Grove to expand their choices in the vocational agriculture department," explained Richard Watson. "With Lindsey taking the plant and soil sciences, horticulture classes, and adding two classes of floral design, it allows me to concentrate on the ag mechanics, animal science, and construction and metal fabrication classes, that I truly enjoy!"
"It's worked great!" continued Watson. "Lindsey brought with her a knowledge of computers, that I'd struggled with and it has allowed her to teach me some of those skills and each of us are allowed to teach in the areas that we truly enjoy! Then both of us work on the leadership and judging teams, when the training procedures get so intense."
Watson and Potts have approximately 130 FFA members in the Miller Grove Chapter and celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Miller Grove FFA, in the spring of 2009.
Reflecting on his 40 year career in teaching vocational agriculture, Watson states, "Kids are basically the same today, as they were when I began teaching. It's attending to the basics and working with them to learn the skills that they can use later in life. Sure, students are much more aware of the world we are living in, than they were in 1969, and technology has provided much more information for them. However, students today still need the skills of leadership, communication, and the ability to continue to learn, as they enter the workforce, and we attempt to equip them with these attributes, as they leave high school!"
"My methods may be a little bit different than Dad's, but it all comes down to building a trust with the student, letting them know that you truly want them to succeed, and letting them discover the unique qualities that they possess," acknowledged Lindsey Potts. "The greatest joy is to see the student grow from year to year, and to know that you've had some part in helping them along on the journey!"
Watson, who now continues to enjoy his teaching field, working with the kids, and attending to the day to day activities at Miller Grove High School, says he has no definite plans about retirement. "I'm just taking it one day at the time, one semester at a time, and seeing what the future holds," relates Watson. "I know somewhere down the road, I'll probably consider it, but as long as I enjoy my job, and am able to continue to relate to the kids, I'll keep coming to school!"
"And, it's truly a joy to work with one of your children, closely, sharing the many things you've learned, and in turn, learning the things that she can offer to aid me in doing something I love," related Watson. "Although, some 40 years ago, I never dreamed it would happen, it's truly been a blessing for us!"
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