SYNERGY-Verna Johnson

Verna Johnson’s life is an incredible journey of perseverance and faith. She has used her position to uplift hundreds of children that may not have had equitable opportunities and to pay forward the gifts that were bestowed on her.

“If I can help someone along the way then my life will not be in vain.”

Johnson was born a poor farm girl in Jasper, Florida, a small town with just two traffic lights. She recalls her childhood as destitute and laborious; her school was a one-room building which also served as the church on Sundays. She worked on the farm with her parents, who were illiterate.

“We could look through the cracked floors in our home.”

These humble beginnings gave Johnson the drive and vision to build herself up and to step out of poverty. Her parents were also instrumental in this journey, as they instilled in her a strong sense of faith and a value for education.

“God saw fit for this country girl to have parents who wanted me to go just a little further than they did, so they pushed me to move to the next level. I did the same thing for my kids. I wanted them to go beyond what I went.”

After graduating High School in 1960, Johnson attended Edward Waters College. This was a milestone for the Johnson family, as she was the first member to go to college. “Since then, a lot of family have followed my example.”

She then went on to receive a certification in Early Childhood Education from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Administration and Supervision from Nova University. After her graduate degrees, she started teaching in 1965 and would eventually work in various places around the county. Johnson has also published many books and articles and traveled across the country to teach seminars about education.

“I want people to know that if someone from my background could do it, then you can too. You can. You can.” Johnson has made it her duty to spread this message to all children like her, who come from humble beginnings and need a guiding hand to help them achieve greatness. She and her husband cofounded the Caring and Sharing Learning School (CSLS) in 1998.

“[Our] charter school gave us an opportunity to provide students a quality education regardless of where they came from.”

Now, over 20 years after its founding, CSLS is considered one of the top schools in the county. Johnson retired from teaching in 1999 after starting the charter school and served as the Director of CSLS until recently. Her son and daughter both work at the school now, continuing the family legacy of serving their community and elevating underprivileged students.

“I would not be where I am if it were not for God.” Most important, Johnston wants to be remembered by the phrase “God can do anything but fail.” She has seen God work within her life and this faith has given her the courage to boldly pave her own path and to trust that “He can move us to where He has planned for us to be. God is in the picture for all of us.”