08/14/2026
Sometimes, you realize just how great a leader’s impact has been by looking around the room.
Last night, the Principals Center had the privilege of celebrating Dr. Stephanie Stephens Johnson at her swearing-in as the new Superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools.
As leaders gathered from near and far to celebrate this moment, the room reflected something we know well at the Principals Center: leadership is strengthened by community.
Dr. Johnson’s leadership journey has been one we have had the privilege of witnessing and learning from for more than a decade.
In 2015, Stephanie was named the recipient of the Principals Center’s 🏆 Joe Richardson Award, recognizing her exemplary turnaround leadHERship while leading the transformation of Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta Public Schools.
She opened the doors of Maynard Jackson to the Principals Center’s Beginning Principals Academy. For three years, she welcomed principals into her school and generously shared the realities of leading transformation—her strategies, challenges, lessons learned, and the leadership required to move a school community forward.
Her leadership journey continued as she served as Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and District Effectiveness at the Georgia Department of Education under the leadership of Superintendent Richard Woods.
And now, she begins a new chapter as Superintendent of Rockdale County Public Schools.
During last night’s ceremony, Dr. Johnson spoke powerfully about the purpose of public education and her commitment to shared opportunity and shared responsibility.
Those words reflect the kind of leadership we believe our schools and communities deserve—leadership that expands opportunity, honors community, and recognizes that the work of educating children belongs to all of us.
The Principals Center is proud to celebrate Dr. Johnson and this significant moment in her leadership journey.
We are grateful for the ways she has invested in leaders, opened doors, shared her practice, and strengthened the leadership community around her.
Congratulations, Dr. Stephanie Johnson!
May this next chapter be marked by bold vision, shared responsibility, expanded opportunity, and continued impact across Rockdale County Public Schools.
We invite our Principals Center community to join us in celebrating Dr. Johnson and wishing her every success as she leads this next chapter.
Leadership is strengthened by community. And last night, that community showed up. @🌱
