New Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson was sworn in on the first day of the new school year and is ready to work with teachers, students, parents and the Atlanta Board of Education to help them get off to a great start.
Earlier this year, Johnson was announced as the sole finalist for the superintendent position and was sworn in on August 5.
“I deeply appreciate the board’s relentless focus on children and excellence throughout the search process. That same relentless focus will be reflected in our efforts to make our urban school district one of the best schools in the country with initiatives focused on literacy, STEM and workforce development,” Johnson said.
SaportaReport reached out to Johnson to see how willing he is to lead one of the state’s largest school districts.
SaportaReport: In the four years you led Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee, you quickly moved the school up the ranks in several categories. What best practices from that time will you carry over into APS?
Bryan Johnson: We were fully focused on developing a culture of excellence. Improving student achievement was at the forefront of everything we did. Explicit instruction with clear goals, aligned assessments, and effective teaching strategies were at the heart of what we did. We also worked to engage the community, and the insights we shared with them informed our decisions.
SR: In addition to leading K-12 schools, you also have experience in higher education as a former vice chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. How do you plan to apply your expertise in this area to the more than 50,000 students?
BJ: While we know that not everyone will or wants to attend college, that is indeed the goal for many of our students. My experience at this level provides an excellent starting point to guide the work needed to prepare students for post-secondary education.
Not only do I know what it takes for them to get there, but I also know what to expect when they arrive and what they need to do to graduate. I have also had the privilege of working in the private sector in transportation and logistics as a leader. I look forward to using these experiences to help the children of Atlanta reach their full potential.
SR: Under the leadership of the last superintendent, APS was able to increase its graduation rate slightly above the state average. How will you maintain or improve that rate in the 2024-2025 school year?
I appreciate the work being done on graduation rates.
BJ: We want to continue that work, but we also want to make sure we increase the number of graduates who walk onto the APS stage at graduation ready for their next step. Whether it’s a four-year university, technical school, the military, or going straight into the workforce, we want APS graduates to continue doing what so many APS graduates have done — lead. We all need to pull together to make sure our children not only graduate, but are ready to succeed in life.
SR: You met with students and parents at town hall meetings last month. What were your interactions with them and what interesting points did they discuss with you? How do you plan to improve relationships with parents, guardians and students in the future?
BJ: My conversations have been very insightful. All parents want the same thing: the best for their child and a good education. Parents at APS have expressed that they care about equity, access, and literacy, and that they are concerned that their students with disabilities receive the support they need to succeed.
I want parents to know that this is a partnership and that my staff and I are committed partners in their children’s education. I want them to know that I am here to listen to them. I am not here to listen to hear; I listen to understand, and that is the key to any relationship.
SR: Data shows that teacher retention rates have declined over the past two years. How do you plan to keep teachers in our classrooms?
BJ: Financial incentives can be a powerful motivator for employee retention, but they are not the only factor. Teachers or other employees will not stay if they do not feel valued, appreciated, or treated with respect. Workplace culture is paramount to employee retention.
Not only must we continue to offer competitive salaries, but we must also ensure that every Atlanta Public Schools employee knows and feels their value every day when they step into the workplace. Employees must want to stay, but when they choose to leave, we must understand why.
