Dr. Dōnnie R. Johnson

K–12 District Executive LeaderNew Jersey–Certified Superintendent

Thirty years of building schools where every student, including every student with a disability, is taught well and counted. Special educator, turnaround principal, and district director of special services, now ready to lead a New Jersey district.

Read the Leadership Profile Read her biography

Portrait of Dr. Dōnnie R. Johnson in a black suit with white lapels and a pearl necklace — Ed.D., Seton Hall University

A record a board can verify

Results from school and district roles in Trenton, Newark, Plainfield, Orange, and Baltimore.

37 of 38 state indicators exceededTurnaround principal of a 480-student Trenton elementary school, leading a staff of 70 to 85, while cutting chronic absenteeism by 40% in one year.
100% state compliance restoredDistrict special education department brought back into full compliance while overseeing Special Education, 504, and multilingual learner programs.
$209K in cuts absorbedManaged a $380K operating budget through reductions without cutting instruction or student services.
Six-figure NJDOE grant securedFunding for district-wide professional development and inclusive instruction.
75% more family participationStructured engagement work that brought parents back into the school.
Certified in four statesSuperintendent certification in New Jersey and Maryland; principal certification in New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.