The Okaloosa County School Board approved Dawn Johnson as the Principal of Mary Esther Elementary School at the January 8, 2024, School Board meeting.
Dawn Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from Fayetteville State University. A military move brought her family to Florida where she began her educational career in the Okaloosa County School District in 2009. She taught Kindergarten at Longwood Elementary School for five years before transferring to Florosa Elementary School where she taught kindergarten, first grade, third grade, and fifth grade. She was selected by her peers as Teacher of Year at both Longwood Elementary and Florosa Elementary. In 2017, she was recognized as a Top 3 finalist for Okaloosa County Teacher of the Year. She earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Florida in 2018 and has spent the past three years at Elliott Point Elementary as the Assistant Principal.
Ms. Johnson’s philosophy and belief is in a growth mindset. She
recognizes that a growth mindset encourages and allows students and
teachers to take risks, seek feedback, learn from their mistakes, become
motivated to face challenges head-on, and put forth the effort to
succeed. As Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true if we
have the courage to pursue them.” She is the mother of two children,
Heather and Ryan, and also has one grandson, Rory. In her spare time,
she likes to read, crochet, and spend time with her family. She is
grateful for this opportunity and is excited to begin this new journey
as Mary Esther Elementary School’s principal.
Congratulations!!