Georgia General Assembly

WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson graduated from Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia, and went on to earn degrees from Savannah State University (BS – English), Georgia Southern University (Masters – Education), Oglethorpe University (AP English Certification), and Georgia Southern University (Ed. S. English); and

WHEREAS, she began her career as an English teacher at Swainsboro High School in Swainsboro, Georgia, and during her career also taught English at Evans County Junior High in Claxton, Georgia, Savannah Technical Institute in Savannah, Georgia, and Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, from 1977 through 1998, Mrs. Johnson taught all levels of high school English at Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia; at various times, served as English Department Chair, Interim Assistant Principal, and Military Science Aviation Magnet Academy lead teacher; and chaired two SACS reports and Beach High School's Building Leadership Team; and

WHEREAS, from 1998 through July, 2000, she was the President of The Georgia Association of Educators, and she has also served the GAE as the Director of Elementary Staffing and Recruiting (August, 2000 – July, 2002) and the Director of Professional Learning (July 2002 – June 2005); and

WHEREAS, her many awards and achievements include being named a Regent Scholar at Savannah State University, winning the Woman of the Year Award from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., serving as Leader of Women at Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church, being named a STAR Teacher at Beach High School (1989, 1990, 1991), voted as Teacher of the Year at Beach High School (1996), receiving a Georgia Southern University Regent Opportunity Scholarship, and winning The Georgia Association of Educators Outstanding Leadership Award (1991); and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson is a member or on the board of many organizations, including the NEA MBC Investor Services Corporate Board of Directors, the NCATE Review Panel, the Mel Blount Youth of Georgia, Inc. Board of Directors, the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Inc. Board of Directors, the Savannah Chapter of the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Board of Directors, and the Con Ed Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, she attends the Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as the Director of Christian Education Ministry and is a member of S.W.A.T. (Saints with a Testimony Team) and the choir and also teaches Sunday school; and

WHEREAS, she is the proud mother of two sons, Calvin Oxendine III and Carlos Johnson; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson has taught and inspired thousands of young Georgia students during her career in education.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body honor the distinguished career of Essie Stewart Johnson upon her retirement and wish her the best as she embarks on a new adventure in life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Essie Stewart Johnson.