April 9, 2007

News Release

Tyler ISD Names Elementary Library after Former Principal

The students and staff of T. J. Austin Elementary are not only getting a new school but their library is getting a new name, too.  The T.J. Austin Elementary School Library will be named after its former principal, Gladys A. Johnson.  Carolyn Williams, Austin’s current principal said recently, “Mrs. Johnson provided dedicated service as Austin Elementary Principal from 1984-1995, and we are delighted to recognize her leadership and preserve the history of our school by naming our new library the Gladys A. Johnson Library.”  A dedication ceremony will take place after the construction of the new school is complete in summer of 2007. 

Mrs. Johnson feels honored to be part of the new school.  She said, “It’s a humbling experience for me to have received the intelligence that the library would be named in my honor.  I’m overjoyed to accept the honor.  I shall always remember the kindness on my behalf and most generous support of the TISD Board of Trustees and citizens of Tyler.  I shall do everything in my power to justify their faith in me.  I thank them for making my life brighter and turning the grey sky to blue.”

Mrs. Johnson has a total of 47 years experience in education.  Twenty-six of those years were in the Tyler Independent School District.  In addition to the position of principal for Austin Elementary, Mrs. Johnson served as a teacher, coach, and an elementary school counselor for Tyler ISD.  Her education experience includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Masters of Education degree in Guidance.  She has received certification in the following areas: provisional elementary, professional special education counselor, professional counselor and professional mid-management administrator.  Mrs. Johnson credits her successful education career to a special formula close to her heart. Time + Truth = Trust. Johnson believes that over a period of time working with the community and getting them actively involved, plus telling people the truth about what you are trying to accomplish will automatically build trust.

After retiring in 1995, Mrs. Johnson still played a role in the education of the students of Tyler Independent School District. She served as a Tyler ISD Board of Trustee - District 2 representative for seven years.  Mrs. Johnson took part in the following district initiatives: Campus Incentive Plan; Gibson Consulting; TISD Performance Goals First in State; Princeton Review; Tyler ISD and The Princeton Review Partnership Update; "Pay As You Go" Preventative Maintenance; Facilities Projects Update; Learning Environment Standards; Campus Learning Environment Standards; Student Learning Environment Standards, Bond 2004 Program. During Mrs. Johnson’s term on the Tyler ISD School Board, the Board was named 2005 Outstanding Texas School Board of the Year, an accomplishment that Mrs. Johnson feels very proud to have been involved.

She has also been involved in Habitat for Humanity of Smith County and the Coalition of Life Organ Bank of East Texas. She was married to the late Dr. David Johnson and they have one daughter, Rose.

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