Rebecca Johnson Appointed Principal of Point Dume Elementary

Rebecca Johnson, a 15-year teacher at Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica, was appointed principal of on Wednesday at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District's Board of Education meeting. Johnson replaces Chi Kim, who .

“[PDMSS] is an amazing school," Johnson told the board after it unanimously approved her appointment at the recommendation of SMMUSD staff. "It has an amazing population of students and parents who are actively engaged in their learning. And I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that has been established by Ms. Kim over the last nine years. And I look forward to making it even bigger and better."

Superintendent Sandra Lyon said Johnson "is known to be a leader at her school and in the district."

Johnson does not have any previous experience as a school administrator.

Lyon sent the following letter about Johnson's appointment to PDMSS parents and staff:

Dear Point Dume MSS Faculty,

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Ms. Rebecca Johnson as the new Principal of Point Dume Marine Science School!

Ms. Johnson comes to PDMSS from Grant Elementary School, where she has been teaching first through third grade for the past fifteen years.  Prior to that, Ms. Johnson taught Kindergarten at St. Anne’s School and first grade at Our Lady of Loretto in Los Angeles.  As a teacher here in SMMUSD, she led grade level meetings, facilitated professional development for her peers, served as a literacy coach, developed BTSA classes in English language instruction, initiated a reading enrichment program, and taught Intensive Intervention Summer School.  Chosen by senior staff to represent our district in the California Reading and Literacy Project, she was a lead presenter and has since worked with other school districts throughout California on English language development.     

Ms. Johnson is well-versed in implementing best practices for effective standards-based teaching and student learning.  She engages her students and promotes project-based learning, allowing students to connect directly to the material being taught.  Having a strong science background, Ms. Johnson enjoys connecting global environmental issues to standards-based lessons that apply here in the local communities. 

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Johnson to Point Dume! 

Sincerely,
Sandra Lyon
Superintendent
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District