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Memphis Superintendent Will Address U of M Commencement Dec. 18
For
release: December 17, 2004
For press information, contact
Gabrielle Maxey
Dr. Carol R. Johnson, superintendent of Memphis City Schools, will address 1,335 graduates at the University of Memphis' fall commencement Saturday, Dec. 18. Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. at the FedExForum.
Johnson was named superintendent last year of the largest school system in Tennessee and the 21 st largest metropolitan school system in the nation. The district has 118,000 students, 185 schools and 16,000 employees, with an annual budget of about $731 million.
Johnson's accomplishments during her first year include: the removal of 83 schools from the state's "No Child Left Behind" list; the successful bids to attain two widely-praised national programs, "New Leaders for New Schools" and the "New Teacher Project;" and renewal of the system's focus on literacy with the "Memphis City Schools Reads" initiative.
Johnson took the lead on correcting problems at schools that were on the "No Child Left Behind" high priority list by replacing entire staffs at five "fresh start" schools and restructuring grades and reassigning leaders at other schools. At the same time she had to identify $25 million in budget cuts during the first fiscal year of her administration.
Before coming to Memphis, Johnson served as superintendent of the Minneapolis Public Schools from 1997 to 2003. There she led the effort to establish district content standards aligned with "No Child Left Behind," and she established programs that improved reading, math, and writing performance among all students.
Johnson began her career as a teacher in the Washington, D.C., Schools in 1969. She also served as program coordinator for a U.S. Department of Education career opportunities program and director of the Minnesota State Facilitator Project.
She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Fisk University in Nashville and earned a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Minnesota.
The Girl Scouts Council of the Mid-South recently presented Johnson its 2004 Woman of Character Award. Other honors for Johnson include the Minnesota Alliance of Black Educators Leadership Award, the Women Ventures Award, Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, and Citizen of the Year from the University Rotary Club.
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