Name: David Johns
Profession: Educator
Age: 33
One word that describes you: Passionate
Education starts with teaching the babies and David Johns, Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, works to identify evidence-based best practices to improve African American student achievement—from cradle to career. Throughout his own career Johns has worked extensively on issues affecting low-income and minority students, neglected youth and early childhood education, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Johns obtained a Master’s degree in Sociology and Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he graduated summa cum laude while simultaneously teaching elementary school in New York City. In 2004, Johns graduated with honors from Columbia University with a triple major in English, creative writing and African American studies.
Resisting what has come to be the call on his life, Johns grew up in Inglewood, California and has long been inspired by those who help children understand the world around them and explore their place within it. “A first generation college graduate, from an Ivy League nonetheless, I never heard that educators do God’s work or understood the nobility of the profession,” Johns tells BE Modern Man. Prior to his senior year at Columbia University, Johns’ plan was to pursue a Ph.D./J.D. In order to leverage philosophy and the law to disrupt the barriers to opportunity that too many low-income and racial and ethnic minorities face. “After a year that included founding a student organization (Columbia University Concerned Students of Color) to engage in protracted negotiations with senior administrators over the lack of campus civility; an anti-affirmative action bake sale; and the publishing of a cartoon titled “Blacky fun Whitey” in a student newspaper I found myself making sense of my world, while teaching kindergarten not too far from the center of Harlem.
Unapologetic about his belief that all children deserve the opportunity to live in a world where access to opportunity is not determined by genetic code or zip-code, Johns understands that he is the beneficiary of sacrifices made so that he can live his dream. “I leverage the power I have to provide platforms for young people and marginalized communities,” says Johns. “It is imperative to speak full truth to power and to highlight opportunities for caring and concerned adults to engage in the village work of supporting children, youth and young adults.”
Growing up in Inglewood, California, Johns was a black boy who attended public schools at a time when it was not cool to be smart or to be seen as a kid enjoying school. The times have changed. “We now live in a time where the President of the United States Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama make being smart sexy,” Johns tells BE Modern Man
. “To have been the first person appointed by President Obama in this role to leverage federal resources to accelerate African American educational excellence is truly a dream come true.”Read more on page 2…
Growing up, Johns mother used to always say to him, “I just want you to be happy.” The trick for him has been to follow his passion. It sounds simple but too few are lucky enough to have the time, resources, and support needed to identify that which you and only you are uniquely purposed to do. “I wake up happy every day pursuing what I love,” says Johns. “Identifying your purpose is only half the battle. Once you know what you’re passionate about, taking the risks necessary to pursue your passion is the other part of the battle.” Surrounded by a supportive village, Johns was encouraged to follow his passion.
Passionate about education and the young people who deserve the access to educational opportunities, Johns without a doubt understands the value of education. “We know that those who successfully attain post-secondary degrees of value earn more money and experience fewer health challenges,” Johns tells BE Modern Man. “Furthermore, in our global 21st century labor market we must honor that technology and innovation welcome non-traditional application of skill and experience.” To ensure that every American is successful they must be supported first, in school.
Before his current post, Johns spent years on Capitol Hill, and describes his time as Senior Education Policy Advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) as nothing less than challenging. “I was one of two Black men among Democratic and Republican committee staff, and I was also among the youngest staff members,” says Johns. Working twice as hard as everyone in the room to ensure that he was knowledgeable about legislation, process, and procedure, Johns stayed the course to fulfill his ultimate purpose. “In addition to knowing the substance, I learned the importance of cultivating relationships, especially with those you disagree. The experiences learned and relationships cultivated during my time on Capitol Hill remain invaluable even today.”
Read more on page 3…
Through his work as Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, Johns team host African American Education Summits on college campuses throughout the country. The summits provide youth, often high school and college students (of all types) with an opportunity to talk directly to caring and concerned adults—to speak in front of a White House seal and make recommendations for the things that need to happen so students feel safe, engaged and supported—in school and in life. “Boxes and socially constructed categories like gender are limiting and dangerous,”
says Johns. “We must acknowledge the broader diversity in and of the African American experience. The diversity among the student participants is a reminder that in there are many types of African American students. Our students continue to pursue educational excellence despite many unnecessary obstacles they face due to perceptions of race, class, gender, and sexual orientations.”Among the things that Johns loves most about America is the diversity through which we have come to understand that in spite of the many different languages we speak, countries we call home, ways we honor and acknowledge a higher power or otherwise we are all united in our common humanity.
Honored, Johns says “Being a BE Modern Man means I join a community of other like-minded brothers of color who understand that to whom much is given much is expected and required. I am honored to be included in such a community and will continue to use opportunities such as this to highlight the importance of teaching the babies.”
Committed to volunteer services and maintaining an active commitment to improve literacy among adolescent minority males, The BE Modern Man team congratulates David Johns on all of his successes and appointment to lead the improvement of African-American student achievement.
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