Carole M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Program Officer - Education
The Johnson Foundation

Carole M. Johnson joined the Foundation as Program Officer for Education in June 1998. She directs Foundation efforts to promote solid learning, encourage good teaching, and advance accountability through conferences on the structural and political challenges facing public education. Dr. Johnson has over three decades of professional education experience, including senior administrative and strategic planning at colleges, K-12 institutions and research and development agencies around the country, as well as elementary, secondary, and university teaching experience. Most recently, Dr. Johnson served as President of Gateway Technical College in Southeastern Wisconsin. Previously, she served as Chancellor of the Minnesota Technical College system and as an Associate Vice President of the Colorado Community College System. During her tenure at the U.S. Department of Education, she conducted policy analysis, coordinated agency activities with the Department of Labor and served as the ombudsman to the states. Dr. Johnson holds a B.S. and a Masters from the University of Southern Mississippi. She earned her Ph.D. in vocational education administration with emphasis in special education and research from Ohio State University. She is deeply involved with local community organizations, including Sustainable Racine, Rotary Club, YWCA, All Saints Health Care System, and the 21st Century Prepatory School.

Program Area

Education
As education is at the heart of democracy, the Foundation seeks conferences to boost academic achievement in public schools. Our areas of emphasis include: comprehensive school reform; leadership, governance, and management; standards and assessment; teachers and teaching; and choice. On higher education, we support conferences that address the consequences of K-12 reform on college and teacher readiness, the invigoration of the liberal arts, and the civic mission of colleges and universities.