MoASSP Announces Missouri HS POY
2020 Jim L. King Missouri High School Principal of the Year
Dr. Eric Johnson, Principal at Winnetonka HS in North Kansas City Schools is the 2020-2021 Jim L. King Missouri High School Principal of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 10, 2020
CONTACT:
Clark Mershon, Executive Director 573-445-5071 cmershon@moassp.org
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – (February 10, 2020) - The Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MoASSP) has selected Dr. Eric Johnson, Principal at Winnetonka High School in North Kansas City Schools, as the 2020-2021 Jim L. King Missouri High School Principal of the Year (POY). MoASSP will officially present the award during the annual MoASSP Spring Conference at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, MO., on Monday, March 30, 2020.
MoASSP Program Director, Doug MIrts, announced Dr. Johnson's award during a surprise all school assembly on Monday at Winnetonka High School. The selection was made from more than 900 Missouri high school principals.
Dr. Johnson has served as the Principal of Winnetonka High School since 2017. Before that, he worked in Columbia Public Schools for ten years. He began his career as an English teacher at Rock Bridge High School before transitioning to the Assistant Principal role at David H. Hickman High School. After four years as an Assistant Principal, he was promoted to Principal in 2014.
Under Dr. Johnson's leadership, Winnetonka became the first high school to be deemed an AVID National Demonstration Site in Missouri. He has created a college-going culture where all students have the opportunity and are expected to succeed at their highest level. Additionally, Dr. Johnson has developed and facilitated diversity and social justice training in both Columbia and North Kansas City Schools.
According to Winnetonka Assistant Principal, Shannon Lawson, "Dr. Johnson's ability to engage students, staff, and community, and focus all stakeholders on the work of ensuring all learning is student-centered, was immediately evident. Students and adults believe in him and believe they are his top priority."
"There is a strong sense of community here at Winnetonka, and Dr. Johnson has truly driven that feeling," comments a student. "With his help, the school has done a turn around from what it used to be, and is now one big family where everyone truly belongs."
Dr. Johnson earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Missouri - Columbia in December 2016.
MoASSP sponsors the Jim L. King High School and Middle School POY programs. In the fall of 2017, the MoASSP Board of Directors elected to rename the award after Dr. Jim L. King. Dr. King was the third and the longest-serving Executive Director serving MoASSP for 16 years. MoASSP is proud to recognize administrators statewide for exceptional school leadership.
Dr. Johnson will be in the running to represent Missouri in the 2020-2021 National Association of Secondary School Principals' POY program.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS AFTERNOON AT Winnetonka High School...CONGRATULATIONS DR. ERIC JOHNSON
Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals
Email: moassp@moassp.org
Website: www.moassp.org
Location: 2409 West Ash Street, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: 573-445-5071
Twitter: @MoASSP