New principals named at Watertown’s Lincoln, Mellette Elementary Schools

March 26, 2024

WATERTOWN,, S.D.–The Watertown School District is excited to announce that Becca Briggs has been named the new Principal of Lincoln Elementary, replacing Gregg DeSpiegler, who announced his retirement at the March 11th school board meeting.

Her duties will also include the District English as a Second Language Director. Briggs has been the elementary principal at Immaculate Conception Elementary in Watertown for the past two years, and prior to that was a teacher and instructional coach for the Watertown School District as well in the Huron School District.

Briggs is a Morris, Minnesota native and a graduate of South Dakota State University with Master’s Degrees from Dakota Wesleyan University and Northern State University.

The Watertown School Board is expected to ratify the hiring of Mrs. Briggs at the April 8th board
meeting.

Superintendent Jeff Danielsen said, “we are excited to have Mrs. Briggs on board as our new Principal at Lincoln. She has a strong background in curriculum and has a true passion
for non-English speaking learners. Having her at Lincoln will be such a plus for the school district. Her past experiences working with staff and ESL population make her a great fit.”

She will begin her duties on July 1st.

The School District is also announcing Andi Ward as the new Principal at Mellette Elementary replacing Heather DeBoer, who resigned at the March 11th school board meeting to take a similar position in Huron.

Ward has been the Principal at Roosevelt Elementary this past year and was a teacher there prior to taking over. Danielsen said,  “Mrs. Ward has done a great job at Roosevelt during what could have been a difficult year. She is positive, upbeat and student focused. I am excited to see her transition to Mellette and have the same impact on that community.”