Atlanta School Board Selects Tennessee Educator as Next Superintendent

Former Hamilton County Schools Superintendent to Take the Helm in Atlanta

ATLANTA – June 18, 2024

The Atlanta school board has chosen Bryan Johnson, a seasoned educator from Tennessee, as the sole finalist for the Superintendent’s position. Previously employed as the Hamilton County school district’s superintendent, Johnson’s selection was announced on Tuesday morning at the school district’s central office in downtown Atlanta.

From Tennessee to Atlanta

After leading Hamilton County Schools for four years starting in June 2017, Johnson resigned in August 2021, with three years remaining on his contract. He pursued a brief stint as the Chief Transformation Officer at the trucking firm U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc, before assuming his current role as the executive vice chancellor and chief strategy officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Despite the career transition, his passion for education remained undeterred.

Bryan Johnson, a Nashville native and the recipient of the Tennessee Superintendent of the Year in 2021, has invested a decade of his professional journey in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, northwest of Nashville. Johnson’s impressive academic credentials comprise an educational doctorate from Trevecca Nazarene University, following which he attended Austin Peay State University and Belmont University.

Quick Transition Expected

Despite the State law that mandates a 14-day waiting period before formalizing the hiring, Johnson expressed enthusiasm over the opportunity and voiced his intent to elevate the Atlanta school district to the leading urban school district in the United States.

During his tenure in Chattanooga’s Hamilton County, Johnson significantly improved academic achievements and expanded broadband access for low-income students. Additionally, his initiatives led to an increase in participation for Advanced Placement courses and dual enrolment programs – giving high school students the opportunity to earn college credits.

Atlanta school board Chair Erika Mitchell lauded Johnson’s transformative stint at Hamilton County. She stated, “We found the best fit candidate for our district.”

A Long-Term Leader for Atlanta Public Schools

Johnson has plans to channel his experience and expertise towards improving literacy skills amongst students and curating strategies to boost their math performance – an area where students at the Atlanta Public Schools have traditionally lagged behind.

Currently accommodating nearly 50,000 students, the Atlanta Public Schools system has been without a permanent leader for close to a year. The role was temporarily occupied by Danielle Battle, a longtime APS administrator, after former Superintendent Lisa Herring’s contract was not renewed last June.

In his interaction with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a hopeful Johnson stated, “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.”

Community Engagement in Leader Selection

To determine the district’s new leader, the Atlanta school board turned to feedback from community members and consolidated a leadership profile incorporating sought-after traits – an equity-driven leader with a comprehensive understanding of Atlanta and considerable leadership experience. Johnson, along with two other candidates, presented to a community panel involved in the superintendent search, the feedback from which was later shared with the board.

Johnson’s appointment is an indicator of the Atlanta Public School system’s commitment to a future of improved educational outcomes for all its students.