March Teacher Feature: Julie Johnson, Kindergarten

 

Julie Johnson is in her tenth year of teaching at Clearbrook-Gonvick.  She was born and raised in Fosston, MN. Julie is the the daughter of Thomas and Irene Hemphill. She had a wonderful upbringing with parents who loved her, read to her, and encouraged her to always do her best (they continue to do so to this day!). Julie has an older brother named Rodger, and a younger brother named Jeff. 

Julie moved to Clearbrook when she and Shawn were married.  Her family increased as the Johnsons and Gibeaus accepted her as one of their own. Rick and Kathy are the best mother and father-in-law a girl could ever hope for, she feels truly blessed! Julie and her husband of 22 years have two sons, Bryce and Brody, who are 18 and 17 years old.

Why did you choose to be a teacher? My parents were both teachers, and they were my role models, so I wanted to be just like them! I also wanted to be a ballerina, a gymnast, a figure skater, an art teacher, a gym teacher, and a mommy. I went off to college, knowing I wanted to teach, but it wasn’t until I got involved with early childhood I discovered my passion. In early childhood, I can be the art teacher, the gym teacher, the mommy, AND I can inspire kids to dream big because they can be ANYTHING they want to be! Early childhood is such an amazing period of brain development, and I am honored to be a part of it. I love building the foundation for successful school experiences! 

What did you do before coming to Clearbrook-Gonvick? I worked at my first dream job, the Fosston Dairy Queen, all through high school. While I attended BSU, I worked at Palubicki’s Bakery and Deli on weekends. After graduation, I started my first teaching position at Oklee Public School. I was a kindergarten teacher there for five years. After that, I taught at Magelessen Elementary School in Fosston for seven years. From there, I was hired to teach first grade at Clearbrook-Gonvick, and have been here ever since.

What is the best part of your job at Clearbrook-Gonvick? I love play time! They say play is the work of small children, and that’s the truth. It is so fun to watch the imagination of a kindergartener at play. When children play, they are developing many skills such as empathy; communication; problem solving; social interaction; creativity; and much more. 

There are so many great things about teaching Kindergarten, but I think getting kids hooked on reading, by reading to the them, has to be one of my favorites. I could read to them for hours, and never get tired of it! During story time, connections are made, vocabulary is increased, and comprehension flourishes. I believe a strong foundation in reading gives children an advantage in all other subject areas. 

What is the biggest challenge of your job? Planning for a substitute teacher. We transition every 15-20 minutes, so it is difficult to write detailed plans for someone else.     

If you could have any job in the world - what would it be? Why? I already have my dream job! I played teacher and hardware store a lot when I was young. My mom was a great provider of teacher supplies, and my dad’s garage was my hardware store.  It must’ve tried his patience a bit, reorganizing his tools after my pretend sales! I guess I’m living proof that dreams do come true, I’m a teacher AND my family has a hardware store! 

What do you do when you are not working at the school? When I’m not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family. You might find me in my flower gardens or curled up on the sofa with my dogs, a good book, and a cup of tea.

The month of March brings in the first day of spring. What part of spring is your favorite? Spring brings so many wonderful things, it’s difficult to choose a favorite! I love watching the woods get their first touch of green when the buds begin to open. The perennials in my gardens start to peek through the soil with the promise of flowers to come. We leave the patio door open to listen to the frogs singing at twilight. The weather is pleasant and everyone’s spirits are lifted!

What are your favorite aspects of the Clearbrook-Gonvick community? My favorite aspect of the Clearbrook-Gonvick community IS the sense of community we have here! Our mission statement is: “Children are our future...we are dedicated to mapping pathways for their success.” I am proud to be a part of a school community that firmly believes in our children and goes above and beyond to ensure their success. I feel the staff at Clearbrook-Gonvick considers the whole child when mapping their pathways as they nurture and guide children towards academic achievement and developing as well-rounded individuals. 

What do you think Mrs. Johnson was like when she was in kindergarten?“She got in trouble for playing.” “Good & quiet.” “Nice and liked to read.” “Happy.” “Really happy.” “A good listener.” “Pretty.” “She liked to play.”

What do you think Mrs. Johnson does when she is not here at school? “Watches tons of grown-up TV.” “Goes to her cabin and plays games.” “She’s sick.” “She goes on vacation at the waterpark.” “Lays on the couch and misses us.” “Plays with her dogs and watched movies.” “Have coloring time and plays with her dog Shelby.” “She reads a long book.”

What job do you think Mrs. Johnson would have if she was not a teacher? “She would still work at the school, but be a principal.” “A librarian.” “She would work at Walmart.” “Dentist.” “Work at a grocery store.” “Be a principal.” “Works at a grocery store.” “Be a singer.”

What is one of the best things about Mrs. Johnson? “When it’s Valentine’s Day, she lets us have longer play time and decorate.” “She is kind.” “She is kind.” “Playtime, and her hair color is the same as mine.” “She is really funny.” “She’s nice.” “She is the best teacher.” “She knows lots of school stuff.”

What do you think is Mrs. Johnson’s favorite thing to do? “Be at home.” “Go to school with us.” “To teach.” “Math.” “To play.” “Snuggle with her dogs.” “Teach.” “To read.”

If Mrs. Johnson was a leprechaun, where would she hide her pot of gold? “Over the rainbow.” “In the Classroom.” “At the end of the rainbow.” “Under the rainbow.” “Underground.” “In the school, or on the other side of the rainbow.” “By a rainbow.” “In volcanos.”

What is one thing Mrs. Johnson ALWAYS says? “To clean up play time.” “Nice words.” “Playtime is over.” “We can start picking up early.” “To be in charge of yourself, and to be kind to others because that is how you want to be treated.” “Line up and be quiet!” “Playtime is over.” “To be good.”