Latest news with #KendraJohnson
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Richland 1 announces superintendent candidates. Here are the frontrunners
Richland School District 1 announced finalists for its next superintendent. BWP & Associates, the firm hired by the school board to conduct the search, received 42 applications for the position from candidates in 12 states, according to a news release. Seven were selected for interviews, which took place Thursday and Friday. After deliberation, the board chose three finalists. 'The Board was fortunate that so many highly qualified applicants want to take on the role of superintendent in Richland One. We could not be more excited about the three finalists, and we look forward to welcoming them to our district next week,' board chair Robert Lominack said in a news release. The candidates are: ▪ Kelly S. Guempel, deputy superintendent, Spotsylvania County Public Schools, Fredericksburg, Virginia ▪ Dr. Kendra V. Johnson, associate superintendent, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Annapolis, Maryland ▪ Dr. Todd Anthony Walker, chief curriculum and instruction officer, Columbus City Schools, Columbus, Ohio Guempel has 19 years of administrative experience across Virginia public schools, as an interim superintendent, principal and assistant principal, according to his resume. He had previously been a physical education teacher. Johnson has 11 years of experience in Maryland and New Jersey public schools, as a superintendent, associate superintendent and chief academic officer, according to her resume. She has also done education consulting work. Walker has 25 years of leadership experience in Ohio schools serving pre-K through high school as a campus director and principal. He also previously taught on the high school and college level. The finalists will visit the district Monday. Students, staff, parents and community members have an opportunity to meet the superintendent finalists on Monday, May 19, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Heyward Career and Technology Center, located at 3560 Lynhaven Drive in Columbia. Richland 1 decided to part ways with current Superintendent Craig Witherspoon last fall. The district school board voted unanimously on a mutual separation agreement in November following school board elections. His last day is June 30. As part of the agreement, he will receive a full year's pay — his last contract extension raised his salary to $258,121 — plus accrued compensation for annual leave and six months of health insurance coverage. The new leader will enter a district that has faced scrutiny from community members and state officials for some time, particularly in the last 18 months. Richland 1 was placed on 'fiscal watch' by the state Department of Education after a state-ordered audit revealed faults with the district's procurement card policy in late 2022. That's the least severe financial rating issued by the state Education Department. In October 2023, Witherspoon and the district administration came under fire after 11 teachers were abruptly reassigned nine weeks into the school year. Richland 1 officials were adamant that such transfers were 'not uncommon,' and were made to maintain ideal student-teacher ratios in each district school. The reassignments were condemned by several Richland County legislators. The district's efforts to build an early learning center in Lower Richland have been heavily criticized as well. Critics claim the district didn't get the proper permits before beginning construction on the $31 million project. The state Department of Education refused to issue a permit for the center in December 2023 because the building was intended to serve children as young as infants. The age range meant the building could not be considered a school, the Education Department said. The district kept building anyway. Richland County officials also said the district did not obtain the proper permits before beginning construction. On Jan. 19, 2024, the district announced that it would stop construction. The controversy led to an investigation by the state Inspector General, which condemned the district's work on the center and its procurement practices. Richland 1 had broken state law and wasted taxpayer money, the Inspector General said. Weeks after the July report, state education Superintendent Ellen Weaver placed Richland 1 on 'fiscal caution,' the second most severe level of concern by her department. The district was required to submit a recovery plan. But the state Education Department rejected the plan and ordered another audit. More than six months later, the audit's current status is unclear. In March, the new school board decided to terminate the early learning center project. On Tuesday, it voted to demolish the partially-built structure on Caughman Road.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislator Kendra Johnson named one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year
State Rep. Kendra Johnson, who has made it her mission to better the lives of fellow Delawareans, is honored as one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Delaware House Representative Kendra Johnson's service came from divine inspiration
Kendra Johnson is one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year's honorees at For Delaware House Representative Kendra Johnson, it all started with a seed. When she was 14 years old in Chester, Pennsylvania, she says a divine presence came and planted a seed 'in [her] spirit and in [her] heart,' telling her that she would help uplift others in a crucial field: politics. Needless to say, she was confused. 'I'm dealing with all of this stuff that young teenage girls deal with related to self-esteem and worth and looking awkward,' Johnson said. 'So why on earth … would he give me such a dream?' Related: Meet the freshman class. 6 new faces headed to Delaware's House of Representatives From a young age, Johnson knew helping people was her passion. Seeing how her extended family would constantly support one another inspired her to help those in need, eventually leading her to executive director of the organization Elwyn. And even though the dream planted in her all those years ago would still pop back up now and again, Johnson continued to brush it away. But, as she explained, the universe had other plans – mainly, then-state House Representative Melanie George Smith announcing she would not be seeking reelection. Upon hearing this, Johnson felt that same presence reappear, urging her to take a chance and follow this new path. A path she could no longer ignore. 'I just had to stop and listen – stop brushing it off,' Johnson said. Johnson is Delaware's honoree for this year's USA TODAY's Women of the Year program. Since coming into office in 2018, Johnson has made it her mission to better the lives of her fellow Delawareans, leading the charge on several pieces of legislation. Inspiring Women Across America: Meet 2024 Women of the Year 2004 Honoree from Delaware: Pam Cornforth of Wilmington's Ronald McDonald House is Delaware's Woman of the Year In 2024, Johnson was the primary sponsor behind House Bill 374, which sought to codify protections for Delawareans' access to fertility services and technologies, including in vitro fertilization. This bill was personal for Johnson, who previously had undergone IVF treatment herself and sought to ensure that physicians providing these same services – and, in turn, the families who receive them – would be protected. 'And without access to that [IVF], I would not be a mom – and I wanted to be a mother,' Johnson said. 'And so I wanted the physicians to have the safeguards that they needed so that they could continue to do the great work that they do.' The bill was signed into law by then-state Governor Carney in September. (Johnson's physician, Dr. Larry Barmat, was among those present.) From pushing for the passage of landmark legislation to serving on a wide range of committees, Johnson has sought to use her position to help uplift those around her. In other words, she continues to let that seed inside her blossom. During our time together, Johnson spoke about the people and experiences that shaped her, what she is most proud of and how she overcomes whatever challenges come her way. My paternal grandmother, who raised me from 14 to 22 [years old]. I say that, not only because of the sacrifice – like what senior citizen wants to take on the responsibility of raising teenagers; like that is huge? – but she did that; she made that sacrifice out of love. One of the things that my grandmother did that certainly changed the trajectory of my life is when I was 22 years old … I got up one morning and my grandmother says to me, 'OK, Kendra, we're going to school.' I didn't know what she was talking about … My grandmother drove us to Delaware County Community College, she's like, 'You're going to take the placement testing and you're going to sign up for college courses,' and she stayed there with me all day while I did that … and because she did that, she believed in me, and it changed my whole life about who I am and who I could become. I define courage as faith – faith because, without faith for me, I would not have had the courage to do many of the things I have done in my life. It is my faith that provides me with the courage to step out. There's a whole lot of things that guide me. This is on my calendar, and it pops up every single day at 12 o'clock in the afternoon. It says, 'Be unafraid of the judgement of others. Be bold and courageous.' Because the judgement of others is what stops us – it's what creates fear. It makes you immobile, but once you are not afraid of that, you can be bold and courageous. My daddy always says this: Adversity breeds character. He always says that because … when you're in those moments and those tough times that show you who you really are. So, who I really am, as it relates to adversity, is that I work to be very thoughtful and understanding – that I might believe and feel all this stuff based upon my own experiences, but my experiences may differ from others. So, that's the first thing: just to be thoughtful and understand that we all come from different places – and with that, to reflect on what that might be and then be open to listening, even if I don't agree to be open. The younger Kendra – 14-year-old little Black girl from Chester, low self-esteem; no confidence; didn't believe in herself; didn't think she was smart or worthy or worth being loved … suffering from depression and suicidal ideation – I would say to that little girl, you are worthy; you are loved; and believe it or not, your life is going to be interview has been shortened for clarity. Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach her at omontes@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Kendra Johnson of Delaware is named USA Today Women of the Year honoree
