The Kent School District Board of Directors chose Calvin Watts as the of the superintendent of the Kent School District to replace Ed Vargas at the March 25 board meeting.

His starting date for the 2015-16 school year is still in negotiations.

Watts was chosen over David Moyer. The board narrowed the search to Moyer and Watts following a national search for a superintendent.

Vargas announced he was resigning as superintendent in October 2014 to accept a position as executive vice president for the national nonprofit AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, that focuses on college and career readiness for underserved students in school districts across the United States.

Watts has most recently been assistant superintendent in Gwinnett County Public Schools, Suwanee, Ga.

The district enrollment is 174,500 students, 15,600 certificated and classified staff members and a budget of $1.7 billion.

Watts has served in Seattle Public Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, Carrollton City Schools in Georgia and The Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Watts holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Howard University, and received his teaching certification at Western Washington University. His master’s degree in educational administration and supervision is from University of West Georgia, and he earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University in Atlanta.