Kenowa Hills — On her first day as principal at Zinser Elementary, veteran educator Brooke Johnston ate breakfast with Natalie Merryman’s young fives, known as K-Knights.
Johnston sat next to K-Knight Titus Paszkowski, a student who also lives in her neighborhood, and chatted excitedly about what he did over the summer, while he munched on mini pancakes and sipped from a juice box.
For the rest of the day, Johnston barely returned to her office. She trouble-shooted lighting issues, checked in with teachers and greeted every student she encountered with a big smile.
Whether students and staff know her as a former third-grade teacher at Alpine Elementary or as half the couple who walk their dogs around the Zinser neighborhood nightly, SNN gets to know Johnston better in this edition of Meet Your Administrators.
Other positions held in education: Johnston’s teaching career began in 1992. She taught a variety of grade levels from kindergarten through sixth grade. In 2014, she joined Alpine Elementary’s teaching staff and served as the administrator for the district’s summer school program, Camp Kenowa, before transitioning to an administrative role at Zinser.
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree, elementary education and early childhood education, Evangel University, Missouri
- Master’s degree, elementary reading specialist, Grand Canyon University
- School administrator certificate, in progress
What jobs have you held outside education? Johnston was director of training and education at Kids Hope USA. She traveled across the country with a team to train local groups on how to start mentoring organizations in public schools.
“We created and provided resources to support mentors as they worked with at-risk students,” she said. “We also supported program directors in their role, making sure they had the necessary resources to build a safe and legal mentoring program at their partnering public school. … It deepened my understanding of the importance of caring relationships in a school setting.”
What would you like to share about your family? The Johnston family includes her husband, Todd, a Kenowa Hills teacher for more than 20 years; their son, Sam; older daughter Taylor, who recently started her fourth year teaching kindergarten; and Taylor’s husband, Tyler.
“We are a family of Knights. Both of our children received a great education at Zinser and graduated from Kenowa Hills High School. I feel fortunate to have been able to watch my children grow up at a school where we built so many special relationships. … If you know me, you know I love my children and am so proud to be their mom.”
What are some of your hobbies or interests? Johnston said she loves walking; she walks her dogs to school and is currently training to walk a half marathon at the end of October for World Vision.
“I tried tap dancing about 10 years ago, but was really bad at that. Last year, I joined a bell choir so I could learn something new. Sometimes, I ‘fake’ ring during performances because I get lost pretty easily, but I like the challenge of trying something that’s hard.”
Describe your leadership style: Johnston said she had a dynamic principal in high school who taught everyone a phrase to remember and live out: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
“I let that phrase guide me through much of my adult life, until I realized that this wasn’t the best advice I had received. I realized leadership wasn’t about me; it was about the people I served. So now I think about how I can bring out the best in other people while I am giving my best. My style is not me-centered, but is about supporting others.”
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from students? “Struggle and joy can coexist. Even on the hardest day, there’s always a reason to laugh or smile.”
How will you encourage student voice in your building? “The same way I provided it as a classroom teacher: I will encourage students to share, (and) listen to their thoughts and provide opportunities that support their interests.”
What kind of kid were you in elementary school? “I was shy. I couldn’t say my “R” sounds, so I stayed pretty quiet. But I wrote in my memory book in first grade that when I grew up I wanted to be a teacher, astronaut or tooth fairy.”
Do you consider yourself a dog or cat person and why? “My basset hound has over 4,000 followers on TikTok, so I better be a dog person!”
Read more from Kenowa Hills:
• Cafeteria becomes one-stop holiday shop
• ‘Hello, this is your child’s teacher. She’s doing great!’
