Retirement reception to honor Johnson

DAYTON — To celebrate her years of dedication t o Day ton Indep e n d e nt School District, a retirement reception will be held next week for Jessica Johnson, Ed.D.

The come and go reception will be held on Tuesday, May 27 from 3 to 5 p.m.

As a Dayton native and Dayton High School alumnus, Johnson has close personal ties to the city and school district. She served for 37 years in education, 11 of those years as superintendent.

Johnson served as substitute teacher, secondary math teacher, interventionist, athletic coach, bus driver, curriculum coordinator and director of instruction before becoming superintendent.

“The countless successes of our DISD children truly means the world to me,” Johnson said shortly after announcing her retirement. “ Being part of their journey, watching our children grow up and walk across the stage at graduation, remains one of the most profoundly rewarding aspects of being an educator.”

In her retirement, Johnson plans to spend more time with family and do some traveling. Her grandchildren, Mason, 14, Georgia, 11, and Ella, 10, are active in sports and other extracurriculars, and Johnson looks forward to attending their events with her husband, John.

“It has been the greatest honor and a true privilege to give back to my community in so many meaningful ways,” Johnson said. “I am deeply grateful to my community.”

The reception will be held at the Dayton Community Center at 801 S. Cleveland St.