Learning to have proper communication skills through writing is a key part of having both academic and personal success. As one of many required high school classes, English is by far one of the most important subjects out there. Many students find the material boring, especially when they have the wrong teacher or environment; but when it comes to teaching an English language arts class, Deborah Johnson is one of the best teachers out there.

Where It Started

Mrs. Johnson has been working at Mountain Ridge High School for 32 years and has been a valuable part of the community throughout her years of teaching. She started out as an office manager, and learned from that job that she loves teaching; so, she left that job and went back to college at 25, coming out with a degree in Special Education at 28. Mrs. Johnson is not only certified to teach grades K-8 in general education and grades 9-12 for English, but is also certified to teach grades K-12 in special education.

What Inspires Her

While being a teacher here, Mrs. Johnson has gained a lot of insight on why she continues to devote herself to the school. “I love interacting with students and seeing their progress over the course of the school year,” Mrs. Johnson states. She also says that the diversity of her day is what makes the job so enjoyable and that she never has a dull moment. Mrs. Johnson has always had a creative spirit and she often hangs her collage work up in her classroom. She said that if she was going to describe herself in three words, it would be “loving, creative, and selfless.” Mrs. Johnson is a family woman, with her husband working as the Equipment Manager at MRHS and both of her kids graduated from Mountain Ridge High School. Not only does she love her family, but she loves animals too, owning six chickens, two birds, and a turtle.

Inspiring Others

Not only does Mrs. Johnson find inspiration in her own life, but she inspires others as well. “Mrs. Johnson is a great friend,” Ms. Borchers says. “She always does her best to take care of people around her.” Another co-worker of hers, Ms. Rogers, says that “Mrs. Johnson cares deeply for her family, students and the school community,” and that “outside of the classroom, Mrs. Johnson can be found cheering on students participating in athletics and the arts.” Her colleagues and friends think very highly of her, and she is known for being an overall positive and creative person to be around as well as someone who is always willing to support any student here at MRHS.

Where She Is

Currently, Mrs. Johnson is teaching English at the junior level for the second time, and is waiting to hear if she is deemed a nationally Board Certified Teacher. Mrs. Johnson is very skilled at her job, and is excited to continue her work as an English Language Arts teacher here at Mountain Ridge High School as well as being a leading figure for both students and teachers alike.