Johnson works with elementary and early childhood teaching candidates in their senior year, when they are student teaching and facing possible exceptions to every classroom management guideline.

“We look a lot at their own beliefs and how they were taught,” Johnson said, adding that people fall back on their own experiences. “There is a lot of introspection.”

Teaching candidates are taught to be respectful of all cultures and to listen to their own students.

There are other challenges, as well. “In South Carolina especially we talk about addressing inequities,” said Johnson. “Resources are important, but teachers can still teach even if they don’t have the most up-to-date computer and software or a textbook. High quality teachers make a significant difference.”

Johnson came to Winthrop in 2004 after earning her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University where she was a classroom teacher and research assistant. Nationally Board Certified as a middle childhood generalist, she taught for eight years in the Wake and Iredell County public school systems in North Carolina.

Johnson’s work in moral and ethical development has made her a natural fit for a university leadership team assigned to emphasize students’ personal and social responsibility. The project, funded by a grant through the Association of American Colleges and Universities, is called “Core Commitments: Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility.” The university will spend the next year taking inventory of its practices.

“The good news is that we are doing a lot of things right here at Winthrop,” Johnson said, such as the Touchstones program, academic success communities and expansive community service and international experiences. “These programs lead to higher student engagement and personal development. Core Commitments is not a new initiative for Winthrop, but more highlighting and expanding upon various programs already successful in colleges departments around campus.”