Greetings, Coal Miners!

I am Debbie McGonigle, your principal at J.B. Watkins Elementary School. I’m excited to kick off my 34th year in Chesterfield County Public Schools! Here is a little information to help you get to know me. I look forward to building wonderful relationships with all of you this year!

I began my teaching career in Chesterfield County at Bensley Elementary School. During my 18 years in the classroom, I taught junior kindergarten, first grade, and third grade at Bensley Elementary and Evergreen Elementary. From there, I spent three years as assistant principal at Watkins Elementary. My first principal position was at C.C. Wells Elementary School, where I served for three years. Ten years ago, I had the opportunity to return to Watkins as principal. It was so exciting to come back home to Coal Miner country!

I attended Chesterfield County Public Schools and graduated from Midlothian High School. I earned my bachelor's degree from Longwood College and my master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

In my free time, I enjoy being a mom to my wonderful children, Casey and Hunter; a Mimi to my granddaughters, Eleanor and Melody, and my grandson, Dawson; spending time at the beach in Duck, NC; reading; and shopping. My husband, Tad, and I are avid runners who enjoy participating in half marathons. Our family also enjoys watching football and cheering for the New York Yankees.

I am excited to meet the parents and students of this wonderful community and look forward to a fantastic school year together. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns. Through our collaborative partnership, I know exciting things are ahead for our students!

Hello Coal Miners!

I love being part of the J.B. Watkins Admin Team! Our students, staff and community are simply the best. I joined the team in the 2018-19 school year and here is a little more about me. I grew up about 40 minutes north of Boston in southern New Hampshire. There I earned a dual degree in Elementary Education and Special Education at Notre Dame College. From there, I taught students with Learning Disabilities and then third grade while completing my Master’s Degree program from the University of Virginia.

I have been fortunate to serve as Assistant Principal at WW Gordon Elementary School and Clover Hill Elementary School before J.B. Watkins Elementary School! . My passions are building positive classroom communities and student leadership.

Personally, I remarried in Sept 2023 and have awesome twin boys who are young adults. We have a rescue dog named Jack and a Boston Terrier named Minnie!

I love being a Coal Miner!

Hello Coal Miners!

I am honored to serve this community as an assistant principal at J.B. Watkins Elementary School. I have been in education for more than 20 years and have served in a variety of roles. After graduating from Elon University in North Carolina, I began my career teaching second and third grades. I moved to Virginia after getting married and taught in Hanover County for eight years. My journey brought me to Chesterfield County in 2016. I worked at Swift Creek Elementary for eight years as a 5th grade teacher, STEAM resource teacher, and Instructional Designer. This is my third year as an assistant principal at J.B. Watkins. I am a National Board Certified Teacher and mother to two children.

I am committed to continuing the excellent work at Watkins as we encourage each student to be lifelong learners and productive citizens in a constantly changing world. I love getting to know each student, teacher, staff member, and the families that make Watkins such a special place. I am dedicated to making sure our students are provided with a safe and encouraging environment conducive for learning.

Go Team Amethyst! Go Coal Miners!