Insistent on deflecting praise to his hard-working team members, the lead for Killeen ISD’s property management warehouse is a district STEEL Award winner for the month of October.
Craig Watson has worked in KISD’s property management department 13 years, following 21 years in the US Army and additional work overseas and on Fort Hood in the service of his country.
In 2011, at his wife’s suggestion, the Arkansas native and retired soldier applied to work in the school district property management warehouse.
His description of his work helps explain why his supervisor, George Ybarra and the six employees he works alongside think so highly of him.
“I get to go to the whole district and take care of the district,” said Watson. “I have a good team that does great work.”
The group he leads works tirelessly to retrieve items from across the sprawling school district for disposal, storage or recycle and for moves from one location to another.
“We do moves, we pick up items for disposal, we take furniture to schools, we drop off recycle materials, we get to move around the city all day long.”
STEEL stands for Supporting the Education and Empowerment of Learners. KISD honors two employees a month during the school year with the award based on nominations.
Ybarra, in his nomination for Watson, said, “Craig demonstrates selfless service by always placing the needs of the students and staff above all else.”
It is not unusual for the servant-focused warehouse leader to personally work the pallet jack and load heavy book boxes while supervising other operations in an effort to fill urgent needs across the district.
He is known for showing meticulous care in transporting student artwork to the annual visual art show, supports department relocations and helps ensure new campuses are prepped for opening.
“We get to take care of people when they ask for help. I have a lot of faith and gratitude in my team. Six of us take care of the district. Sometimes we get additional help in the summer to help with moves,” he explained.
At any given time, property management workers can expect to have 60 to 70 work orders to fill and that number can rise to more than 100, Watson said.
The hardworking leader takes extreme care in every job, from moving a warmer or a stove for school nutrition to delivering band instruments and staging for high school graduation ceremonies.
“I’m not looking for awards,” he said. “I give credit to my team. I feel great about it. My wife tells me it’s time to retire but I’m not ready to sit around.”
Ybarra’s nomination reads, “Craig exemplifies the motto, ‘not for ourselves, but for others.’”
Interim Superintendent King Davis and other senior district leaders and board members joined property management staff at the department warehouse to surprise Watson with the award.
STEEL Award recipients receive a circular, steel plaque refined and polished in the welding and automotive paint and body shops at the KISD Career Center.