Julie Johnson

The only thing Julie loves more than developing big, ambitious ideas is figuring out how to put them into action. She believes that systems are often the foundation on which equity is built and that every challenge can be untangled with the right people around the table. Discovering a process she developed years ago is still in place (and working well!), makes her day.

Julie was the Chief of Talent and Culture for DC Public Schools, the fastest improving school district in the country, until leaving the District after over a decade. As Chief, she oversaw the hiring of hundreds of teachers annually and increased compliance with local credentialing regulations 59% in one year. Julie has a strong background in talent acquisition and retention, systems improvement, and operational excellence. Prior to serving as Chief of Talent and Culture, she was Chief of Staff for three consecutive Chief Operating Officers. In this role, she helped each leader define his or her vision and worked with numerous teams to identify their strengths and areas where changes would improve performance and increase impact. She led substantial program and process redesigns across the organization in content areas including school operations, security, afterschool programming, school budgeting, student transportation, and more.

Julie has a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Arizona State University. She began her career teaching fifth grade and was inspired by her students to dedicate herself to ensuring all young people, regardless of their race, income, or ability, receive high quality support from their schools and community.

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