The Simpson Middle School gym is a place where students learn, grow, and thrive, and there's no one more deserving of its dedication than Coach J. Randy Watts. He has modeled compassion, consistency, and creativity as he helped our students grow in their self-awareness and self-confidence for decades. His commitment to education and ingenuity reminds us of the value of hard work and imagination. By dedicating the Simpson Middle School gym to Coach Randy Watts, we honor a true champion of physical education and a role model for us all.
During his tenure at Simpson Middle School, Coach Watts has been a tireless advocate for physical education, inspiring literal generations of students to be active, healthy, and engaged. With his unwavering dedication, innovative teaching methods, and boundless enthusiasm, he has earned countless awards and accolades; including, but not limited to the following:
• 2013 - 2014 Simpson Middle School – Daryl York Award
• 2015 - 2016 Simpson Middle School – Teacher of the Year
• 2021 – 2022 Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (GAHPERD) Middle School Teacher of the Year Award. Coach Randy Watts was selected for this prestigious award out of hundreds of educators and was recognized at the GAHPERD State Conference in 2022.
In addition to his impact in the classroom, Coach Watts has shared his insights and ideas for student engagement and athleticism at PE conventions around the state and even invented a physical education game known nationally as Target Dual. In 2019, Target Dual was purchased by Gopher Sports and is now sold through their company to PE programs throughout the country. Furthermore, this incredible achievement was memorialized in the December 2, 2019 edition of the Marietta Daily Journal-Constitution as a clear testament of the impact of his innovation.
We are proud to commemorate his legacy and look forward to sharing his enthusiasm for athleticism, kindness, inspiration, and dedication for years to come at Simpson Middle School.
