Meredith Johnson has over 40 years as a teacher, principal, administrator, and now connector of book lovers through social media. Meredith seeks out others to work collaboratively within the integration of 21st Century Learning skills.

Meredith loves working with adults, guiding them in developing their academic skills and using technology as a tool to help them achieve their goals. Meredith is an avid user of Twitter as a tool for learning. That’s how I met Meredith and am so excited to have had a conversation with her. Enjoy Meredith’s journey!
About your family
My husband, John, and I have retired to our place in paradise on the Isles of Capri, just across from Marco Island, Florida. I have amazing adult sons; the eldest, Charles, is an attorney in Southern Illinois, the second, Matthew, works in the computer technology field and the youngest, Jonathan has less than 50 days left until he finishes law school in Colorado.

What it was like for you as a student/learner
I had an amazing education from pre-school – 7th grade in Minneapolis, MN. My family then moved to Southern Illinois where I finished high school and earned a joint, bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education. I also achieved a Master’s degree from Southern IL University in educational leadership/special education with an endorsement as a director of special education. I always adored school and especially books. As a child, I would take books from the shelves in our living room, place them on a table with “library cards,” and try to get my three brothers to check them out. My mother was always so upset with me as I would never play with dolls as I was too busy playing “school.” My eldest brother had substantial learning challenges and for most of our childhood, long before P.L. 94 – 142 he attended a private boarding school for children with learning problems.
In the late 1950s, public schools in Minneapolis were not prepared to meet the needs of children with behavior or learning challenges. We’ve come a LONG way from those days. I went into special education with the intent of making a difference for children with learning difficulties. I am also a third generation teacher. My grandmother taught in a one-room schoolhouse in southern MN, and my mother, nursing at the University of Minnesota. I still have the bell my grandmother used to call students into class.
Once, I took it with me in my purse, to a job interview with the intent of sharing with those on the interview committee my tremendous dedication toward education and the long history my family had with it.
About your journey as an educator
I started teaching as a 4th-6th-grade teacher of children with disabilities for 4 years and then another 3 years for 7th and 8th-grade children in another district. Other roles included Curriculum Coordinator, Title I Coordinator, ESEA Coordinator, grant writer, Summer School Coordinator, and After-school Director.
I became Principal at Unity School in Wisconsin, an elementary school with 500+ students, 42 certified teachers, and 14 non-certified personnel. For eight years, I was Principal of Robert Mitchell Elementary School, an elementary school with 400 students, 30 certified teachers, and 18 non-certified personnel. Our at-risk student population consists of 65% Hispanic, 93% low socio-economic and 52% English Language Learners.
For two years, I was Principal of Frances Willard Elementary (Rock Island/Milan District #41) that has been one, of only two, School Improvement Grant (SIG) sites in Illinois. I worked with a fantastic team of educators where we implemented the four goals of the grant to transform student behavior and achievement. 

Using technology as a tool to assist with transforming our school has been very helpful. A complete understanding of literacy and mathematics has helped guide the decisions that needed to be made.