Today you’ll get to read the story of Casaundra N. Johnson, M. Ed. She is an educator who has an unique perspective on things. She is currently a Reading Interventionist, Mentor Teacher, Curriculum Writer, is a part of her school district’s aspiring leader’s academy and just recently won Teacher of the Year. She is a past Branch Manager for Woodforest National Bank in which she was employed for 11 years before switching careers into Education.
[Also, we met due to being members of the same professional organization, Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals (HAULYP)]
Jerren (JW): What inspired you to get into the field of education
Casuandra (CNJ): My own passion for education inspired me to get in the field of education. I am working on my 6th and prayerfully final degree of my Doctorates in Educational Leadership and prior to my career change about 4 years ago…I was in banking for 11 years, had reached my peak or plateau in that field I felt as a Branch Manager and was already teaching Financial Education classes to students through Junior Achievement and as a volunteer effort to women in shelters because I’m FDIC certified to do so and I really enjoyed teaching, I developed this passion for it so I prayed, took the certification test and got all of my necessary credentials to transition into the Education field and so many doors have opened ever since. Also, I feel that I know me and for those who know me, I would want someone like me in the schools, in the educational field… just for advocacy and because I have the heart of caring for all the students I come in contact with and I want them to succeed.
JW: What is the most challenging thing you’ve had to deal with as an educator?
CNJ: There are many challenges that I can think of but the main one that comes to mind considering our society now is the thoughts of knowing that the children I teach are growing up in the same world as me and that this world can be cruel and cold and being the empathetic person that I am, I don’t want them to deal with any negativity and injustices so that has being challenging for me because it is something that I can’t control but I can daily pray for them and model to them how they should handle real world situations if they ask me.
JW: What is the most fulfilling thing about teaching?
CNJ: What’s not?! For me, as cliché as it may sound, it is the sense of pride after teaching a student a specific standard, skill or strategy and they grasp it and understand it and can teach others…that is delightful to witness and very rewarding to know that they can learn how to critically think for themselves and that at some point they say “Ms. Johnson taught me that!” I also just recently won Teacher of the Year for my school so that’s been awesome and intrinsically motivating for me.
JW: How has being part of the leadership team in HAULYP helped you professionally and beyond?
CNJ: Professionally, HAULYP has given me an opportunity to hone my leadership skills, create and strengthen new ones, and also an exciting list of successful events that I can confidently say I had a part in creating, executing and bringing to the organization all while facilitating others, my forever Social and Cultural Committee in doing so now I have even more confidence because
I also won’t ever negate the fact that I have built long lasting relationships by being a part of this organization and I will always cherish those friendships and networking connections for years to come.
Photos taken November 2018 by Jerren Willis Photography LLC, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX.
Casaundra Nicole Johnson was born and raised in Albany, Louisiana but declares herself a citizen hybrid between Texas and Louisiana and is the eldest of two other siblings; her brothers: Johnny Jr. & Jeremy Xxavier. She is also mommy to her puppy, Cha Cha.
She is a graduate of University of Houston-Victoria with her Bachelor’s in Business Administration/Business Management and also holds two Associates degrees, and a Theology degree (her proudest degree of all), Masters in Educational Administration from Lamar University, and many teaching certifications. She will be starting her Doctorates of Educational Leadership in June.
