Al Johnson, the new director of equity services, is known throughout District 742. He has a way with kids. He engages them on their level, challenges them to be better and stands behind them when they need someone to lean on.
“I believe … it’s really important for us to connect our passion with our purpose,” says Johnson. “Our passion comes out of what we believe, our family values, how we’ve been brought up or raised, and through that lens, I can determine what I’m really passionate about. And then, we have to look at what we’re really good at. Now, I can play the drums, but I wasn’t meant to play the drums. That’s not my purpose … I’ve been given a gift to connect with kids.”
Having his passion in line with his purpose has been a journey of discovery for Johnson. When it came to education, he felt lost as a child. He didn’t feel a sense of belonging and struggled because of it. What he did learn was that he was good at talking to people.
Johnson’s career began in sales. He worked for many different companies which gave him the perspective of what he didn’t want to do the rest of his life.
While in sales, he was asked to speak at a Career Day at a local school.
“At this Career Day, I started to tell them [students] how much I love [and how] important education is. … I loved that experience. When my son was in school, I decided to go back to school. I didn’t have my bachelor’s degree at that point. … I started to dream again.”
He finished school with a bachelor’s degree in ministries from University of Northwestern. As part of his degree work, he was asked to identify a program–any program anywhere–and redesign it to make it better.
“There was a program at my son’s school called African American Boys Club,” says Johnson. “I thought, ‘Man, I can redo that program. I can even have my kid in there.’”
Johnson proposed his idea to the principal and lead counselor who both loved it. Their concern, however, was who would run the group? Johnson jumped at the chance.
“I called it the Breakfast Club,” smiles Johnson.
The group met twice a month before school, and Johnson taught the kids how to be positive influencers. The experience made him rethink his career. He witnessed the growth of those kids firsthand as well as developed a strong relationship with the them.
In 2007, Johnson became an equity integrationist in Hopkins School District. During his five years there, someone mentioned he’d make a great principal.
“They put that bug in me,” says Johnson. “So, what do you think I did? I went to Willie Jett (who worked in Hopkins at the time) and asked what I needed to do to get my principal license.”
Johnson earned his degree in administration and learned the technical aspects of being an administrator. Then he earned his shot at being a new principal at McKinley-ALC in St. Cloud. Still, he felt there were a lot of other skills he needed to develop.
“What I found,” reflects Johnson, “. . . is that kids in any environment, when looking back, have had something that has gotten in the way of their learning. There is trauma in rural, suburban or urban schools. No matter where you go.”
One particular McKinley student impacted him. Johnson had been following the principal “book” step-by-step when the student suddenly passed away. Johnson had a mind shift to “what do I need to do to get those things (that get in the way) out of the way?” and realized he had a greater role to play than setting up new programs. He had to be intentional in the way he helped students along their journey to graduation.
“What I did after this happened,” says Johnson, “was something really specific at McKinley. I decided every student was going to graduate on time.”
Johnson put parameters in place to prevent distractions and potential roadblocks, as well as increased safety measures and communication to ensure students earned their degree. He finished the school year at McKinley and then moved to Apollo High School as principal for the next two years, where he built personal relationships with the students, communicated in the hallways with staff and students, changed the schedule as well as hallway movement. He gathered a raving fanbase in his Apollo community. In fact, he received over 300 Facebook friend requests from students, staff and families when they heard he was leaving to become the director of equity services for the district.
Looking back, Johnson reflects, “I worked so hard to become a principal; you have no idea what it feels like to go back to some people that said I’d never be anything… and then I had to be humble. ‘I said [to myself], what can I do now? You affected change in Hopkins, St. Paul, then I came to McKinley with 400 students and affected a whole building, then Apollo with 1,500 students and now I have 10,000 students. Now, is a better time to affect change.’ My goal, overarching, is to change the world one kid at a time.”
He wants to continue to build on the phenomenal work the equity department has already done throughout the district.
“I just want to put my Johnsonism on it [equity department],” he says.
Each day, he plans to start his day at a different school so that he can “ground” himself with kids. He wants to keep the focus on students and ensure the work he did as a principal continues by being available to students, staff and families.
“I just want to be there for them,” he says, “and give them the support that they need. I need people to know that I’m more than willing to put myself out there to meet what needs they have.”
As time progresses, Johnson realizes his passion and purpose are more aligned than ever. He’ll continue to ensure that 742 students don’t feel the struggle and sense of not-belonging that he did growing up: one child at a time.
Fun Facts about Al Johnson:
#1. Al LOVES to cook. He’s not afraid to take on a challenge in the kitchen. (His wife Carrie, Transportation Supervisor, really appreciates that about him.)
#2. Al likes to cycle, be outdoors and go boating.
#3. Al has seven children: six boys and one girl. By January, he’ll have five grandchildren.
#4. Al keeps drumsticks at his desk. (Not the chicken kind.) He hasn’t give up his passion for drumming.
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