Head of School
International School of Texas - About us
A Message from our Head of School
Welcome to IST!
At IST, we promise to provide our students a holistic, challenging, and innovative education with a firm grounding in a global mindset. Through this foundation, our students are provided opportunities to extend their learning into the real world and pursue their passions. As an institution that values character development along with academic growth, our culture is marked by free thought, equal opportunity, and our core values of Respect, Integrity, Confidence, Intellect, and Service.
True to our Trailblazer identity, our graduates will seek to understand themselves, their passion and calling in the world, and forge their own paths. They are Servant Leaders, Community Builders, Global Citizens, and Classically Liberal Thinkers. They will embody the values of our community, the IB Learner Profile, and pursue lives that mirror our mission as a school of building respectful global communities and serving the world around them.
We invite you to come join us and find out how your child’s curiosity can meet their courage as an IST Trailblazer!
David Watson
Dr. David Watson
Head of School
About Our Head of School
Dr. David Watson joined the IST community as Head of School in July 2025.
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Dr. Watson is a distinguished international educator with more than 30 years of leadership experience across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Fluent in English and French, he brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to academic excellence, community, and innovation. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, he holds degrees from universities in three different European countries. He is now a joint US/UK citizen, having lived and worked in the US since 2000.
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Most recently, Dr. Watson served as Head of School at the Community School of Naples (Florida), where he led a remarkable transformation growing enrollment by 40%, tripling the endowment, expanding facilities, and introducing cutting-edge STEM, robotics, and global programs.
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His prior leadership at schools such as The Awty International School (Houston), RAK Academy (UAE), the American British Academy (Sultanate of Oman) and Garden International School (Malaysia) reflects his expertise in driving growth, uniting communities, and fostering international partnerships. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), the world-wide Council of International Schools (CIS) and was Board Treasurer for the Council of International Schools of the Americas (CISTA). A former examiner for the International Baccalaureate (IB), he has chaired or been a member of more than a dozen accreditation teams for independent schools in the US and several overseas countries.
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As Head of School, Dr. Watson is responsible for both the day-to-day administration of IST, and the successful implementation of the strategic long-range plans, in partnership with the Board of Trustees.Â
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When he isn’t conducting IST business or talking with students and families, Dr. Watson can be found supporting Austin FC, the Rockets, Mavericks and his hometown soccer team, Manchester United.
15506-C TX-71Bee Cave, TX 78738
Phone : (512) 351-3403
Monday - Friday
7:30 am - 4:00 pm