Ayanna Johnson

I attribute my success to purpose, perseverance, faith, and a lifelong commitment to helping others reach their full potential. When I arrived at Harvard University, I envisioned pursuing a career in law or economics. That direction changed when I began serving children through the Phillips Brooks House Association in Dorchester. Working with young people and families helped me discover my passion for education and recognize it as my calling.

Since beginning this work in 1989, I have served as a tutor, Echoing Green Fellow, early childhood program founder, daycare director, KinderCare Center Director, classroom teacher, mathematics specialist, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and leadership coach. Each experience has reinforced my belief that meaningful and lasting change requires strong leadership, effective systems, high expectations, and an unwavering commitment to students.

Today, as Principal of Vision Academy Charter School of Excellence, I work to strengthen instruction, develop educators, build school culture, engage families, and improve student outcomes. I also support educators and school leaders, particularly those working in turnaround environments, as they implement strategic plans and create more effective and equitable schools.

I believe every child deserves access to an excellent education and the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background or circumstance. Receiving the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Phillips Brooks House Association was especially meaningful because it brought my journey full circle. The organization that helped me discover my purpose later honored the life of service that grew from that experience.

After more than three decades in education, I remain inspired by the opportunity to empower students, support educators, develop leaders, and build schools where every learner can succeed.

The best leadership advice I have received has not always been spoken. Much of it came from observing the actions of leaders throughout my life and career. Excellent leaders showed me the importance of integrity, vision, consistency, accountability, and investing in others. They demonstrated that leadership is not defined by a title, but by your ability to advance the mission, serve people, and create the conditions for others to succeed.

I am a mission-driven leader. The mission guides my decisions, priorities, and use of resources. It keeps me focused during difficult moments and helps me distinguish between what is merely urgent and what will create meaningful, lasting impact. I believe effective leaders must keep the mission at the center while helping every member of the organization understand how their work contributes to it.

I have also learned valuable lessons from ineffective leaders. Those experiences showed me what can happen when personal agendas, titles, or convenience take priority over the mission. I learned the consequences of poor communication, inconsistent decisions, weak accountability, and failing to support the people responsible for carrying out the work. These lessons strengthened my commitment to becoming the kind of leader I would want to follow.

Mentors and leaders such as Bishop John Edmondson, Donna Gretkowski, and Dr. Sutton, along with the teachings of John Maxwell, have helped shape my leadership philosophy. The most important lesson I have learned is to remain a student of leadership. I continually examine what builds trust, what strengthens an organization, and what helps people thrive. I use those lessons to lead with integrity, advance the mission, and create opportunities for others to succeed.

My advice to young women entering education is to remain connected to your purpose and keep students at the center of every decision. Education is deeply rewarding, but it also involves changing policies, competing priorities, complex challenges, and difficult decisions. A clear sense of purpose will help you remain focused when the work becomes demanding.

Do not wait for someone else to recognize your leadership potential. Use your voice, contribute your ideas, volunteer for meaningful responsibilities, and pursue opportunities that stretch your abilities. Find mentors who will challenge you, sponsors who will advocate for you, and colleagues who share your commitment to excellence. Continue learning, document your accomplishments, and become confident in communicating the value you bring.

Lead with urgency, integrity, and courage. Advocate for students, especially those whose needs and voices are often overlooked. Do not allow resistance, criticism, or the expectations of others to cause you to diminish yourself or abandon the mission.

At the same time, understand that service does not require sacrificing your well-being. Establish healthy boundaries, protect your values, and make time for the people and practices that keep you grounded.

Your greatest impact will come from combining competence with compassion. Know your craft, build strong relationships, make decisions based on evidence, and create opportunities for others to grow. Most importantly, remember that your leadership can open doors not only for you, but also for the students, educators, and young women who will follow you.

The greatest challenges and opportunities in education are closely connected. Schools face declining academic outcomes, educator shortages, uneven access to resources, and growing demands on students, families, and staff. Addressing these challenges requires strong instructional leadership, effective systems, and a renewed commitment to ensuring that every student receives an excellent education.

I see a significant opportunity to strengthen leadership at every level. School improvement cannot depend on one exceptional principal or teacher. We must develop educators and leaders who can build strong teams, use data effectively, implement strategic plans, and sustain progress. Expanding leadership coaching and school improvement support across charter schools and traditional public school districts could strengthen more schools and improve outcomes for more students.

Artificial intelligence also presents an important opportunity. When used responsibly, AI can help educators personalize instruction, analyze student needs, reduce administrative demands, and create more engaging learning experiences. It can also prepare students for a world in which technological fluency will be essential. However, schools must address concerns involving access, accuracy, privacy, academic integrity, and bias. Educators and students need guidance in using AI ethically, critically, and creatively.

We must also reconsider how students demonstrate their learning and their genius. Standardized assessments provide some useful information, but they do not capture the full range of a child’s abilities. Students should have opportunities to demonstrate mastery through projects, presentations, portfolios, performances, entrepreneurship, technology, the arts, and real-world problem-solving.

Education has an opportunity to become more personalized, equitable, and responsive. We can maintain high academic expectations while creating multiple pathways for students to discover their strengths, develop their voices, and show what they know. Our responsibility is not only to prepare students to pass assessments, but also to help them recognize their gifts and use them to lead, create, and contribute.

Faith is the most important value in my personal life and professional work. It shapes my character, guides my decisions, and reminds me that leadership is a form of service. My faith keeps me grounded in my purpose and calls me to lead with integrity, compassion, courage, and concern for others.

Family is also central to who I am. My family has provided love, strength, accountability, and support throughout every stage of my journey. Family responsibilities have taught me patience, sacrifice, presence, and the importance of caring for people beyond what they accomplish. While helping care for my father as he lived with dementia, I completed the coursework required for Pennsylvania’s Superintendent Letter of Eligibility. That season tested me personally and professionally, but it strengthened my resilience and deepened my appreciation for faith, family, and perseverance.

Service, lifelong learning, and positively impacting others are also essential values in my life. I believe we should continue growing regardless of our age, title, or level of experience. My current pursuit of a Doctor of Executive Leadership reflects my commitment to remaining a student while helping others develop their own capacity to lead.

Whether I am leading a school, supporting an educator, serving my church, or spending time with my family, I want my actions to reflect my faith and leave people stronger, more confident, and better prepared to fulfill their purpose.