Dr. Courtney R. Johnson is entering her 15th year as an educator with the Newark Board of Education. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a dual concentration in Math, Science, and Technology from The College of New Jersey and became a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. In 2006, Dr. Johnson began her professional career as a substitute teacher in the district. The following year, she became a teacher at 18th Avenue School and served as a cheerleading coach and on the School Leadership Council (SLC), which was instrumental in implementing the Broader, Bolder Approach, a school-based intervention plan across central ward schools.

Dr. Johnson went on to teach middle school math at Luis Muñoz Marin earning the distinction as a highly effective teacher. She later went on to become a Teacher Coach of Mathematics at Dr. William H. Horton and returned to Luis Muñoz Marin as a Teacher Coach of Technology, where she integrated Google for Education platforms across disciplines to strengthen the professional practices of teachers. Dr. Johnson completed her Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Capella University in 2017 while serving as the School Operations Manager at Luis Muñoz Marin. In addition, she co-facilitated the Girls in Technology STEM Program and coached the student awardees of the 2020 Newark's Census Logo Contest held at Arts High School.

In 2019, Dr. Johnson served as a Supervisor with the Office of Student Life in which she led the implementation of restorative practices, student discipline, grief and loss initiative, pre-college pathways, social-emotional learning, and mentoring across district schools while enrolled in the Educational Technology Leadership Doctoral Program. Dr. Johnson became a Special Assistant with the High School Leadership Team, where she provided leadership coaching, managed strategic partnerships, and provided student support, all in alignment with the district's ten-year strategic plan. Dr. Johnson completed her mixed methods study on a systematic approach to school-based mentoring in 2022 at New Jersey City University, where she also serves as a Clinical Supervisor for the Center Teacher Preparation and Partnerships and Adjunct Faculty Member in the Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Department.

As a transformational leader, Dr. Johnson remains committed to leading school communities through the complex interplay between pedagogy, practice, and relationships. Her educational philosophy is that all stakeholders must collectively equip students with the skillsets to make informed decisions that lead to healthy individuals who will go on to pursue their unique pathways to lifelong learning. Dr. Johnson follows a legacy of educators in her family that spans across three generations. She also attended Harriet Tubman School in her former years. Dr. Johnson is honored to lead the Quitman Street School Community and will ensure that each student receives the world-class education they so deserve.