Johnson finds a new chapter at RES

RUSSELLVILLE — Retirement gave Chris Johnson the chance to choose where he wanted to continue serving students, and that search led the Fairview native to Russellville Elementary School.

After retiring from the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi, Johnson said he still wanted to work in education.

Russellville’s reputation caught his attention, he said, and visits to community events strengthened his interest in the position. Johnson said it was the people that made him want to work in Russellville.

He said he attended Russellville’s Watermelon Festival and homecoming festivities before applying for the job. He said watching the crowd take part in Russellville’s torch tradition also left an impression.

“This is a community that embraces its traditions,” Johnson said. “It believes in the power of unity. That was attractive to me.”

During his 25-year career with the Itawamba County School District, Johnson served as a classroom teacher, high school assistant principal and district technology director. He said his responsibilities also included operations, assessment, discipline, policy, and principal mentoring.

Although most of his career has been in secondary education and district leadership, Johnson said moving into an elementary school will be “a fun new adventure.”

He credited Principal Channing Wright and the school’s leadership team with helping make the transition feel less intimidating.

Wright said Johnson has already made an impression on the faculty.

Johnson said supporting teachers is one of his priorities because they have the greatest influence on students.

“Teachers are the most important aspect of the school,” he said. “They’re the ones kids will remember.”

He said administrators should remove barriers, help teachers meet their goals and provide the support they need to succeed.

He said returning to a school building has reminded him what he missed while working in district administration.

“In a district office, you stare at a computer,” he said. “In a school, you get to see 640to 650 people every day. It’s a living, breathing organism. You can feel the impact.”

Johnson said he is looking forward to seeing students return for the new school year “I’m excited to see their enthusiasm,” he said. “I want them to know they’re loved and cared for.”

He said he also wants parents to know they can count on him.

“I strive every day to be consistent, fair, open, and accessible,” Johnson said. “I’ll do what’s best for their child.”

Johnson said children often teach adults as much as adults teach them.

“They teach us empathy, interpersonal skills, how to have fun and not take yourself too seriously,” he said. “The humbleness and naivete in the heart of a child, that’s something to cherish.”

Asked what success would look like after his first year at Russellville Elementary, Johnson said it begins with students.

“I want every one of them to be safe, healthy and show growth,” he said.

By María Camp