Dr. Bryan Johnson is serving as the new superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, following a year-long search.
Dr. Johnson, the former superintendent of Hamilton County Schools in Chattanooga, was the 2021 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year.
“I think when we went through the search process, we were looking for a proven leader, and he demonstrated real success in his last district,” school board member Ken Zeff said.
During Dr. Johnson’s tenure with Hamilton County Schools, he focused on teacher retention. Dr. Johnson believes the key to maintaining teachers is not only increased compensation but also a positive environment.
“The first thing we did for first, second, and third-year teachers was [make] sure there was not only an induction experience, but there was a support and mentorship program set up,” Dr. Johnson said. “We want to make sure that new teachers are positioned for success and don’t run from the profession but run to it. Money may get you to come, but culture gets you to stay.”
Since Johnson strived for increased teacher retention at his past schools, AP Seminar and Research teacher Lisa Boyd is hopeful that similar goals will be brought to APS.
“One of the things that my students have learned in AP Research from the cell phone study is that teacher satisfaction vs dissatisfaction has a huge impact on learning and a positive school culture,” Boyd said. “The more we can help to make the really difficult job of teaching easier, and more valued, would allow for a better focus on what we do for our schools.”
Zeff is anticipating how Johnson’s skills in teacher retention will be useful to APS.
“When teachers leave a school system, they’re basically firing the district,” Zeff said. “They’re basically saying, ‘I don’t feel heard; I don’t feel respected.’ I think he’s been able to build cultures where teachers feel supported, and respected, and I think that’s going be what we need.”
During the pandemic, Dr. Johnson gained insight on the importance of teachers.
“I think we have learned a lot of lessons [from online learning],” Dr. Johnson said.” “We learned that schools are important to the community. I would like to believe that we have learned that we are better together, what happened with the pandemic, it took everybody banding together to get things done. From an online learning standpoint, we learned that you can fill some gaps, but you can’t replace a teacher.”
Boyd is hopeful that with the help of Dr. Johnson’s initiative, that the importance of feedback from teachers and students will also grow in value to APS.
“I hope that teacher and student voices will be valued more,” Boyd said. “Not just listened to, but actually acknowledged and are able to provide input on the best ways to grow and improve in APS.”
Dr. Johnson wants to additionally focus on APS’ racial and wealth disparities.
“I think it’s really clear the thing I’m most excited about is that the community is clear on the disparities that exist, and that allows you to begin the process to close some of those gaps,” Dr. Johnson said.
Literature teacher Kate Carter served on the community panel to provide insight on the candidates. Carter believes Johnson has the experience and expertise to analyze the entire district.
“I am really excited about Dr. Johnson,” Carter said. “I think Atlanta is an extremely complicated place for someone on the outside to come into, but I think he has experience really navigating a lot of different voices and needs.”
Carter hopes Dr. Johnson will adjust to the needs of each school, not just the district as a whole.
“What I tried to impress upon the candidates when I was on the panel was that we need more autonomy for schools,” Carter said. “It simply doesn’t work to have a one-size-fits-all approach. Our needs at Midtown High School are different from the needs somewhere else and what has felt like intense micro-management from the district has been a huge bummer for teachers and a disservice for students.”
One of former interim superintendent Danielle Battle’s main goals was to focus on literacy, something which Johnson said he aims to expand.
“We will take phase one [of Battle’s literacy initiative], and from there, we will evaluate the rollout and implementation and continue to make the next steps with the curriculum,” Dr. Johnson said.
The long-lasting impression that Johnson left on Hamilton County Schools is something Zeff admires, and he is hopeful Johnson can carry over the same legacy for the future of APS schools.
“What was even more exciting was when he left his last school district, his deputy took over and continued the work, and they continued to show progress,” Zeff said. “That’s something that we haven’t had where there’s that sort of secession, planning, and continuation once a superintendent steps down.”
Before taking the job with APS, Dr. Johnson worked in the private sector as executive chancellor and chief strategy officer of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and previously as chief transformation officer for U.S. Xpress Enterprises.
“I love that he was in private business,” Carter said. “The way he spoke about being able to tackle and solve problems was inspirational to me. It was not what you’re used to hearing from people who run big bureaucracies. I think he has a lot of different great pieces, and I think he will play well in Atlanta.”
Zeff believes making connections with the school district is something that can unite the community, and build up a district; so, finding that ability in Dr. Johnson has created excitement for what he can bring to APS.
“He’s had some really good collaborations with the business community, and I think that will be helpful,” Zeff said. ¨But it’s really about reaching all of the connections with each community and finding what that community needs, which I think Dr. Johnson will excel at.”
Dr. Johnson said he returned to education because he missed working with students.
“Seeing a young person thrive and succeed and be positioned for success in education is the most rewarding thing,” Dr. Johnson said. “I missed the connection that I get when working with students.”
