The Atlanta school board unveiled former Hamilton County, Tennessee, Superintendent Bryan Johnson as the district’s sole finalist for superintendent.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Johnson some questions about being named the district’s sole finalist. (There is a 14-day vetting period required by law before the board can officially offer him the position.) The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: The (Atlanta) school board developed a profile for its next superintendent. (One trait board members) said they wanted is someone who knows Atlanta. So, what do you know about Atlanta?
A: Atlanta, like so many urban school districts, (has) unique challenges. The challenges aren’t isolated to Atlanta. How are we going to lean into literacy? How are we going to lean into science and math instruction? How are we going to lean into workforce and economic development? How will we work with the community with intentionality to support all of those things ... those challenges are all the same.
Credit: Bita Honarvar for the AJC
Credit: Bita Honarvar for the AJC
Q: You mentioned literacy. (Atlanta’s interim Superintendent) Danielle Battle recently rolled out a literacy plan. Do you plan to implement what she has laid out?
A: We want to build on that and we want to continue to take those next steps. So (I’m) really excited about the foundational work that’s gotten started under her leadership — and really started back in 2023 when the board adopted a literacy policy. This board has said for more than a year now ... that teaching the high-quality instruction materials steeped in the science of reading is important. So we just want to hit the accelerator around that and move that forward.
Q: You mentioned math instruction, which often takes a back seat to literacy. How will you approach math?
A: (Since the COVID-19 pandemic) what you’re seeing in some of the national (test) results that are continuing to come out is that math is continuing to lag behind. So we’re going to have to take many of the same practices and interventions that we’re placing into the literacy spot into the math spot. That’s just what the work is going to be.
Q: Research shows for (school district) leadership to be effective, it has to last more than a year or two. Do you plan to stay in Atlanta long-term?
A: I brought my son and my wife (to the announcement), so we’re moving. We’re not looking to move onto the next thing. Who wants to leave Atlanta? This is a destination. We’re excited to be here and we’re excited to do the work, partner with the community, working aside Atlanta’s great board. We’re here as long as the board will have me.
Who’s Bryan Johnson?
Credit: Bita Honarvar
Credit: Bita Honarvar
Bryan Johnson currently serves as the executive vice chancellor and chief strategy officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).
Johnson, 41, was hired to lead Hamilton County Schools in June of 2017. He resigned in August of 2021 with three years left on his contract. From there, he became chief transformation officer at trucking company U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc.
In 2021, Johnson, a Nashville native, was named Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and was a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year. He worked for 10 years in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, northwest of Nashville. Johnson attended Austin Peay State University, Belmont University and Trevecca University, where he earned a doctorate in educational leadership, according to his UTC bio.
