SHS teacher, Erica Johnson appointed by Mississippi Department of Education to the Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council
Erica Johnson, English teacher at Starkville High School, was selected by the Mississippi Department of Education to serve on the 2024-2025 Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council. The Council provides direct input to the State Superintendent of Education about issues in Mississippi's schools, and members participate in discussions that focus on improving learning in classrooms across the state. Ms. Johnson was selected to be part of the Advisory Council in August, and meetings with state leaders begin this month.
Ms. Johnson says she applied to be on the council because she loves Mississippi and education.
“I want our education system to be the very best it can be,” she said. “I realize that my influence is limited in the classroom. I want to be an advocate for students and teachers on a larger scale and be part of the solutions implemented in our state. We can’t grow unless people speak up and participate in the process.”
Ms. Johnson has served as a teacher in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District since 2017 where she started midyear at Armstrong as a 6th grade reading teacher. The following year she moved to Starkville High School where she has taught 9th and 10th grade English. She currently teaches dual credit/dual enrollment English Comp I and II, where she provides students with college-level coursework that also satisfies high school graduation requirements. Johnson is a National Board Certified Teacher and also serves as an English Lead Teacher supporting the entire ELA department at Starkville High School.
Johnson believes the input from teachers on this council is important because they can share problems and concerns that leaders would not be able to see unless they were in a classroom. Teachers experience all the rewards and challenges that come with helping students and are able to provide a multitude of perspectives. Bringing classroom issues to light is one thing that attracted Ms. Johnson to this leadership opportunity.
“By discussing those issues, we can collaborate and develop effective solutions that will benefit all Mississippi schools and the state as a whole,” she said. “We are always better together. Teacher input is invaluable. No one knows the profession, the challenges, and the joys better than the teachers in the trenches everyday."
Ms. Johnson hopes that being part of the Council will allow her to share more of the real-world issues that teachers face with those decision-makers who impact the field of education the most.
“Teachers work with students every single day, and we know our kids," she shared. "Listening to teachers provides insight into what works and what doesn’t. It also treats teachers as valued professionals who are experts in the field.”
"We are very proud of Ms. Johnson for earning this leadership opportunity with the Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council," said SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "We know that excellent teachers are essential for student success. Ms. Johnson's insight into the teaching profession, as well as the every day issues facing our boys and girls in the classroom will be valuable for our state leaders to hear."
Now in her seventh year of teaching, Ms. Johnson still sees the joy of learning and impacting students as one of her primary motivators as she strives to provide excellent classroom experiences.
“I enjoy getting to know students and seeing their 'aha' moments first hand,” said Ms. Johnson. “There is nothing like seeing a student who is struggling finally get it. It brings me so much joy to see students grow from young kids into mature thriving adults.”
When she thinks back to her first years working with high school students, Ms. Johnson can't help but remember her first class of seniors and how she was able to form connections that still exist today.
“I felt very connected with them,” she said. “I was a brand new, young teacher who didn’t know what she was doing, and they embraced me anyway. They recognized that I had their best interests at heart even though I was completely green. I still keep in touch with many of those students. We learned together - me as a new teacher and them as young adults.”
As she begins this new opportunity to share about her experiences in a broader way, Ms. Johnson is very honest and open with her advice for new teachers.
“Be consistent, fair and firm. Be open to learning from your students,” she said. “Each day will be a brand new adventure; if you’re consistent and open to learning new things, it will be one of the greatest and most rewarding adventures you’ll ever go on.”