By Kimberly Willis Green
Stephanie Stephens Johnson, Ed.S, principal of Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School, an International Baccalaureate school, is a recipient of the 2014 Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education. Johnson is the only principal from Atlanta Public Schools to receive the honor this year.
Proud Principal Stephanie Johnson has earned her title as “turnaround principal” in the state of Georgia. In the past nine years of her 19 years serving as an educator, she led the turnaround of Sequoyah Middle School and Jonesboro High School in Clayton County Public Schools, and is now serving as the “Mission Possible” turnaround principal assigned to Priority Status Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School in Atlanta Public Schools. Prior to serving in the role of principal, Johnson was appointed to serve as an assistant principal on a turnaround team at Morrow High School in Clayton County Public Schools. The superintendent later promoted Johnson to a principal’s position after only 10 months. Johnson’s educational experience includes teaching secondary education English Language Arts and serving as a guidance counselor in Mobile County, Ala. and Clayton County, Georgia. She has been has been recognized for her leadership by the Southern Regional Education Board, Georgia Department of Education, and the GLISI’s Power of 100.
Project: Integration of Agriculture Education and a Community Garden
Johnson said Jackson High’s community members, students, and local business partners have expressed interest for the school to offer an urban Agriscience program. Johnson will use her award to enhance Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School’s new agriculture education program that was recently added to their curriculum. Once implemented, Jackson will house the only Agriscience program in the district. “My project for the Atlanta Families’ Awards initiative is to support our goal to create a community roof-top garden (which is a very beautiful field),” said Johnson. “We are planning to build a greenhouse and a cold storage for flowers and we will need startup resources for the garden.” Thanks to the Atlanta Families’ Award for Excellence in Education, their wishes have been grant.
Congratulations Principal Stephanie Johnson!
