Her Story
About Sherri
Sherri Johnson has dedicated over two decades to early childhood education, working as a preschool teacher since 2002 and currently serving as the lead three-year-old teacher at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. Throughout her career, she has focused on nurturing confidence, respect, and kindness in her youngest students, often serving as their very first teacher and helping to lay the foundation for their future academic success. More than thirty years ago, her passion for guiding young learners led her to create "Mrs. Tattle," a classroom character designed to help children resolve minor conflicts and speak up for themselves without constantly relying on the teacher, a tool that has since become central to both her teaching philosophy and her writing. Later in life, Johnson expanded her impact beyond the classroom by becoming a published author, completing her college degree at 55 and releasing her first book at 65. Her debut title, Mrs. Tattle's Superpower, launched last April, and her follow-up, Mrs. Tattle's Brave Heart, is set to release by the end of August. The second book holds special personal meaning, as it is dedicated to children at a local hospital and features three of her grandchildren, portrayed through descriptions rather than photographs. Writing under the pen name "Mrs. Tattle," she shares her stories and classroom insights through her website, MrsTattle.com. Beyond her professional achievements, Johnson leads a full and grounded personal life. She has been married for 44 years and is the proud parent of two successful adult children and grandmother to three grandchildren. She gives back to her community through her volunteer work with the Salvation Army and Diabetes Association, along with gardening and watching hockey in her free time. Preferring to remain out of the spotlight, she credits mentors such as her two sisters Laura and Patti, her husband Kyle and current principal Ryan Watson, for shaping her journey, and she continues to focus on quietly making a difference in the lives of the children and educators around her.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sherri
01What do you attribute your success to?
I believe my success comes from a gift given to me from ABOVE. After all these years in the classroom, I've been blessed with the opportunity to shape young children by instilling in them trust, kindness, and respect. I also have had the supportive "village" it takes to inspire me to continue teaching the littles as long as I can. I can also say the children I have taught and those still to come will continue to teach me each day. I know that even at my age, I am NEVER to old to learn from those around me. These children are a blessing I will always be grateful we are able to share our gifts with each other.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The advice I always hold onto is to remember that the children who come into my classroom are only 36 months old. It's important to keep that in mind and manage expectations accordingly, because it requires a great deal of patience and calm to work with children so young. When these children see that I have faith in them, they realize they've GOT IT!
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can take every class and earn every credential, but that alone isn't enough. Over my years of teaching, I've seen bright young women leave the profession because, while they had the intelligence for it, they lacked the patience and confidence to deal with young children in the classroom and with parents who also are navigating, especially in preschool turning over their child to the teacher and hoping they are going to have a positive partnership so their child can succeed. I have definitely learned over these many years of teaching, it's not easy for moms and dads to relinquish authority to teachers during the school day even when they know it's going to be okay. I'm also one of those teachers who actually love parent-teacher conferences. I love the opportunity to discuss the growth and share the positive attributes of their child. I have found that sharing those with the parents letting them know you value and appreciate their child makes it much easier when uncomfortable topics come up, the parents know I mean it in a loving way .
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Teaching today looks very different from when I first started. I've watched parenting styles evolve and children's behaviors change over time, and I navigated significant shifts during COVID. One of the biggest challenges now is helping parents and teachers stay aligned, especially as approaches like gentle parenting have changed how children interact and behave in the classroom.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust is, without question, the most important value to me, both personally and professionally. Kindness comes right alongside it. Trust, kindness, and respect are the three values I hold above all else.
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