The Bradley County School System has named Buck Watson as the new principal of Oak Grove Elementary School.

Watson will replace retiring longtime Principal Ted Bryson.

“For me, a leadership role has always been something I was interested in,” Watson said.

Watson currently teaches biology in the sophomore academy at Bradley Central High School. He said his time working at Bradley Central increased his desire to serve in leadership in the educational system.

Watson has worked in Bradley County Schools for 16 years. According to the Bradley Central High School website, Watson began teaching at Trewhitt Junior High School (now Lake Forest Middle School) in 1998.

Watson shares alma maters with Bryson. Both attended Bradley Central High School and the University of Tennessee.

The incoming principal said he was excited about becoming a part of the Oak Grove Elementary family.

“I’m just thankful for this opportunity to work with a great group of teachers and students,” Watson said.

Director of Schools Johnny McDaniel said Watson was chosen from 14 individuals who applied for the position.

“My extended team met and we narrowed that down to six. We interviewed six outstanding candidates, all of them very strong, and Mr. Buck Watson was the one who came out on top of that, the one we thought really fit well with what we needed at Oak Grove,” McDaniel said during Tuesday’s Bradley County Board of Education meeting.

Watson was able to visit the school Tuesday to meet faculty and staff.

“Its a different atmosphere than what I am used to at the high school level,” Watson said.

Watson said he plans on beginning to work with Bryson next week to get a better feel for the daily operations of the school.

Watson said the biggest challenge for any principal is management of the school and collaborating with faculty and staff to make the school run smoothly.