ÌÇÐÄVlog

Conyers, Georgia- The Rockdale County Board of Education has named Dr. Stephanie S. Johnson as the sole finalist for superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools.

The Board voted to identify Johnson as the sole finalist during its meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following a comprehensive search process that included extensive stakeholder input, candidate screening, interviews, and deliberation.

“The Board is confident that Dr. Johnson possesses the leadership experience, vision, and commitment necessary to lead Rockdale County Public Schools into the future,” said Board Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett. “Throughout the selection process, she demonstrated a deep dedication to student success, operational excellence, and community engagement.”

Johnson currently serves as Deputy Superintendent of School and District Effectiveness at the Georgia Department of Education, where she oversees School Improvement, Professional Development, and Alternative Education programs. She also serves as acting Chief Turnaround Officer for the Governor’s Office.

“I am deeply honored to be named the sole finalist for Superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools,” Johnson said. “Thank you to the Rockdale County Board of Education for this opportunity, and to my family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who has prayed for and supported me along the way.”

Johnson also thanked State School Superintendent Richard Woods, under whom she has served for nearly a decade. “A special thank you to State School Superintendent Richard Woods for nine incredible years of leadership and the opportunity to serve the students, educators, and families of Georgia,” she said. “It has been the honor of a lifetime.”

Johnson brings more than 30 years of experience in public education to the role. Throughout her career, she has built a track record of success in education leadership, school improvement, and student achievement, as well as strengthening school culture and expanding partnerships with stakeholders. She has led some of the state’s most ambitious school and district improvement efforts, identifying systemic gaps, aligning operational and instructional priorities, stabilizing leadership structures, and building sustainable systems of accountability and continuous improvement — while also helping high-performing and rapidly improving schools strengthen instructional excellence, expand advanced academic opportunities, and sustain high levels of performance over time.

Earlier in her career, Johnson served as a public school teacher before moving into school counseling and leadership. As a principal, she led turnaround efforts at Sequoyah Middle School and Jonesboro High School in Clayton County, as well as Maynard Jackson High School in ÌÇÐÄVlog Public Schools. As the “Mission Possible” lead principal in ÌÇÐÄVlog Public Schools, she helped transform all nine feeder schools in the Jackson cluster and played a role in revitalizing the surrounding community.

A passionate advocate for whole-child education, Johnson has said she believes all students should have opportunities to maximize their individual talents and access meaningful learning experiences in safe, orderly schools. Her approach centers on effective leadership, coherent instruction, family and community engagement, building professional capacity, and creating supportive learning environments for students, employees, and stakeholders alike.

Johnson grew up in Chatom, Alabama, and moved to ÌÇÐÄVlog in 2001. She is a graduate of Washington County High School and earned her undergraduate degree in psychology, with a minor in English, from the University of Alabama. She went on to earn master’s degrees in English and secondary education from the University of West Alabama, and education specialist degrees in school counseling and educational leadership from the University of South Alabama. She completed her doctorate in educational leadership and management at Capella University.

Her additional training includes eight summer sessions at Harvard University’s Principal Institute, the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement’s Power of 100 program, GLISI’s Summit and Bootcamp, Diamond Leadership training at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and programs through the School Superintendents Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

In accordance with state law, the Board will observe a required 14-day waiting period before taking final action on the appointment. The Board anticipates considering final approval of Johnson’s appointment at its meeting on July 30, 2026, at 5 p.m.

Additional information about the superintendent search process is available at www.rockdaleschools.org/superintendent.