Judith L. Johnson, known for her unwavering commitment to public education, was an unrelenting advocate for educational equity who, during a career that spanned more than 50 years, served as acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the U.S. Department of Education during President Clinton's second term, served as superintendent of Peekskill schools and interim superintendent of Mount Vernon schools, and most recently, since 2015, served on the State Board of Regents, representing Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties. Regent Johnson devoted her professional life to public education and worked to transform national and local educational policy to significantly improve the quality of education.
Regent Johnson was the recipient of numerous awards, honoring her contributions to public education, our community and nation, including the 2008 New York State School Superintendent of the Year award, making her the first African American in the history of the New York State Council of School Superintendents to receive this honor, and the 2009 Alumna of the Year at Brooklyn College, and, in 2015, was inducted into the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
Regent Johnson was a Charter Member of the Rockland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., which was established on October 20, 1990, and was the Chapter’s first vice president. Regent Johnson was an active member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., until the completion of her tenure with the Chapter and was instrumental in laying a strong foundation for now the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., for our children and for our families.
Throughout her life, Regent Johnson upheld the main objectives of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., by demonstrating her love, care, and concern for all children through her work in the community and was constantly recognized for her outstanding advocacy for public education and for her commitment to providing opportunities to all children grounded in equity and excellence.
The members of the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., extend to her family our deepest sympathies as we hereby honor the memory of our Charter Member, Regent Judith L. Johnson.
Regent Johnson was the recipient of numerous awards, honoring her contributions to public education, our community and nation, including the 2008 New York State School Superintendent of the Year award, making her the first African American in the history of the New York State Council of School Superintendents to receive this honor, and the 2009 Alumna of the Year at Brooklyn College, and, in 2015, was inducted into the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
Regent Johnson was a Charter Member of the Rockland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., which was established on October 20, 1990, and was the Chapter’s first vice president. Regent Johnson was an active member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., until the completion of her tenure with the Chapter and was instrumental in laying a strong foundation for now the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., for our children and for our families.
Throughout her life, Regent Johnson upheld the main objectives of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., by demonstrating her love, care, and concern for all children through her work in the community and was constantly recognized for her outstanding advocacy for public education and for her commitment to providing opportunities to all children grounded in equity and excellence.
The members of the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., extend to her family our deepest sympathies as we hereby honor the memory of our Charter Member, Regent Judith L. Johnson.