Atlanta school chief finalist to stay ‘as long as board wants’

A: Atlanta, like so many urban school districts, (has) unique challenges. The challenges are not limited to Atlanta. How are we going to move towards literacy? How are we going to address the teaching of science and mathematics? How will we build on workforce and economic development? How are we going to work with the community with intentionality to support all of these things…these challenges are all the same.

Credit: Bita Honarvar for the AJC

Credit: Bita Honarvar for the AJC

Q: You talked about literacy. (Acting Atlanta Superintendent) Danielle Battle recently deployed a literacy plan. Are you planning to implement what she presented?

A: We want to build on that and continue to take the next steps. So (I’m) really excited about the groundwork that began under his leadership — and that really began in 2023, when the board adopted a literacy policy. This council has been saying for over a year now…that it is important to teach high-quality instructional materials infused with the science of reading. So we just want to step on the gas and get things done.

Q: You mentioned math education, which often takes a back seat to literacy. How will you approach mathematics?

A: (Since the COVID-19 pandemic), what you’re seeing in some of the national (test) scores that continue to come out is that math continues to lag. So we’re going to have to adopt many of the same practices and interventions that we’re putting in place in the literacy area and the math area. This is exactly what the job will be.

Q: Search watch for (school district) leadership to be effective, it must last more than a year or two. Are you planning to stay in Atlanta long term?

A: I brought my son and my wife (to the announcement), so we’re moving. We are not looking to move on. Who wants to leave Atlanta? It’s a destination. We’re excited to be here and we’re excited to do the work, to collaborate with the community, to work alongside the great Atlanta board. We are there as long as the board wants us to be.

Who is Bryan Johnson?

Credit: Bita Honarvar

Credit: Bita Honarvar

Bryan Johnson currently serves as executive vice chancellor and chief strategy officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).

Johnson, 41, was hired to lead Hamilton County Schools in June 2017. He resigned in August 2021 with three years remaining on his contract. From there, he became director of transformation at trucking company US Xpress Enterprises Inc.

In 2021, Johnson, a Nashville native, was named Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and was a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year. He worked for 10 years in the Clarksville-Montgomery County school system, northwest of Nashville. Johnson attended Austin Peay State University, Belmont University and Trevecca University, where he earned a doctorate in educational leadership, according to his UTC biography.