New Principal Spotlight: Lisa Johnson

In her first year at , Principal Lisa Johnson aims to encourage her students to practice compassion, tolerance and critical thinking.

After working in the Inglewood Unified School District for nearly a decade, Johnson comes to Birney reinvigorated and eager to raise the bar even further for her new school. She replaces former Birney Principal Jacqueline O'Sullivan, who is the of .

Redondo Beach Patch sat down with Johnson, wearing her bright turquoise Birney Elementary T-shirt, to talk about her first impressions of Birney, her plans for the school and more.

Redondo Beach Patch: What is your educational background?

Lisa Johnson: I have a bachelor's degree in English literature and my teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach.  I have my master’s in educational administration as well as my administrative credential from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

I was a cashier and then manager at a Vons for over 16 years ... After getting into management I said to myself that I would like to start teaching. 

While teaching in my first couple of years, I decided that I would like to get into administration, so I went back to school to Dominguez Hills in 2006 for my administrative credential and my master's degree. 

I began in 2003 at La Tijera K-8 as an English teacher for seventh and eighth graders for six years. After that, I moved to Crozier Middle School as an instructional coach and later became the assistant principal.

RB Patch: Why the switch from being a teacher to a principal?

Johnson: I love working with children, but I also like working with adults. I really wanted to be able to push change at a larger level. As an instructional coach I was able to see how you could not only have an impact on children, but watch teachers grow as well. 

RB Patch: What was your first impression of Birney Elementary School?

Johnson: It's like a true community school—it's beautiful. There is a sense of unity here that you can feel. The parents are very supportive; the students have a sense of pride and ownership in their campus. Everyone is very kind and welcoming. 

RB Patch: What are some of your goals for the students and for the school as a whole?

Johnson: I would like to also see that we start looking at vertical alignment with the middle and high schools. Children need to be aware at a younger age of college, so I want to bring that to the campus. I would like the students to be better critical thinkers. 

Birney is achieving at a very high level, and there are some signature practices that have been put it place that I want to continue ...  I have six new teachers that I was able to hire, and I would like to help them develop to be a part of the Growing Educators program.

RB Patch: What are some qualities you feel elementary school kids should develop?

Johnson: I think they need to be tolerant. That's one of the main things that I really try to encourage my students to feel. Tolerance and compassion—times are changing. Campuses are very diverse, and you're going to meet so many types of people and you have to embrace those differences. That's one thing that I've noticed on Birney's campus ... students are very caring.

The Safe School Ambassadors program is a district-promoted program that tries to prevent bullying and promote caring, compassionate individuals on campus. It teaches students strategies to help prevent bad incidents on campus.

RB Patch: What makes you a good fit for Birney?

Johnson: Coming from a management position and working with people for so long, I honestly believe I'm a people person. I get along well with others. My experience has taught me to build effective relationships both with children and adults. I'm very patient and open to change, which I think is important. You need to be able to take input from others and be able to work with people on various levels. 

Being in Redondo Beach makes me feel inspired. There are so many people that are well-educated, articulate, welcoming and encouraging.  They inspire me to go on to higher things myself.

Previous New Principal Spotlights:

• (Washington Elementary School)
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