STL Curator interviewed Brentwood High School principal, Ed Johnson, and has run a 2,000-plus word article on his career in education, and growing up with an abusive father.
These are excerpts from the article. See the full article at STL Curator.
He’s the kind of person who you might talk to for a few minutes and then discover yourself running your large life decisions by him–he gives great advice. The bookshelves facing his desk hold many photographs of his wife and young son, a chubby, smiling toddler named Tristen, who is just four years old…
Recently, some of his current students staged a walkout in response to the decision not to indict Darren Wilson, a white police officer who shot and killed a black teenager while on duty in St. Louis County. As an educator, it was a difficult teaching moment, but he was thrilled to see his students impassioned about an important cause and exercising their rights…
While he’s surrounded by hundreds of students every day, some of his greatest mentoring moments are reserved for Tristen. “I get to be a dad. I get to go home and kiss my son and do all of the loving things I always wanted,” he says cheerfully…
“I come from a broken situation,” he says. “I never had a real relationship that I would have wanted with my dad.” A drug addict, alcoholic, and what Dr. Johnson calls “a street guy,” his father would sometimes disappear for months, or even a year, at a time…
It was at Missouri Baptist that he began applying himself as a student. After he graduated and received a business degree, he began substitute teaching in the St. Louis Public School District. It was spontaneous, unpredictable, and he loved it…
Read the full article in STL Curator.
Dr. Johnson is a true man for sharing his personal life with the world. Dr. Johnson attended the men’s Lenten Breakfast last Wednesday morning at Brentwood Congregational Church and shared his personal life in more detail than this article. He must be admired by all who hears his story and I know I was. Thank you
Dr. Johnson as your life touch mine to some degree. Come see us again!
Dr. Johnson did get it right and in reading his full profile – every indication points to him continuing to get it right. Positive story of forgiveness, gratitude and finding one’s path. Absolutely nothing cheesy or corny about it … Happiness is a choice. Well done sir.