Obituary: NY State Regent Judith Johnson

Judith Johnson, a career educator devoted to public education whose leadership roles included federal and local posts, has died. The Hudson Valley resident was a member of the New York State Board of Regents.

She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education under President Bill Clinton.

She spent 10 years as the schools superintendent in Peekskill, the first woman and African American to hold that position. In an article covering Johnson's last board meeting in Peekskill, Patch contributor Jeff Canning wrote:

Johnson has often referenced her long-term goal to eradicate the gross inequalities in public education. She says that she has always worked to make sure that all students have their potential recognized in their schools, as she did when she was a high school student and an English teacher encouraged her to write. Johnson has received many awards and accolades for her work at PCSD and throughout her career. She has taught in New York City schools, worked as an assistant superintendent in White Plains, and then moved on to serve as the Active Assistant Secretary for elementary and secondary education under the Clinton Administration. In 2001, Johnson became Peekskill's first African-American and woman superintendent. During the nine and a half years of Johnson's leadership the district received more than $20 million dollars in grant funds for academic programs and a $59 million bond issue to build the new middle school opened in 2009. The district had not built a new school in more than 30 years.

In 2012 she took the temporary helm of the Mount Vernon City School district during the search for a permanent superintendent there.

She served on many national committees, according to her biography on the State Board of Regents website. Those included the American Association of School Administrators, the New York State Council for School Superintendents, the Association of Small City School Districts and the New Standards Project, a national initiative that launched the transformation to standards based instruction, a concept that remains the framework for teaching and learning across the nation.

New York State United Teachers Executive Vice President Jolene T. DiBrango released the following statement today mourning Johnson's death:

“The NYSUT family is saddened by the passing of Regent Johnson, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family and colleagues. Regent Johnson was an incredible advocate for students and educators across New York state. A staunch equity warrior, her leadership, passion, knowledge and thoughtfulness will be missed by us all.”

In 1990 Johnson was named one of the 100 Executive Educators in America. She received the New York State School Superintendent of the Year award in 2008, the first African American in the history of the New York State Council of School Superintendents to receive the honor. In 2009 she was named Alumna of the Year by Brooklyn College, her alma mater. The Biondi School added her to its Black History Wall of Fame in 2017.

In 2015 she was inducted into the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame. She gave the keynote address in 2018 at the Rockland County Commission on Human Rights Women’s Forum. Her topic was “The Time is Now: the Empowerment of Women.”

“It is a sad day in Rockland County as we learn of the passing of Judith Johnson. Regent Johnson was one of the staunchest advocates for children and their education that I have ever seen," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. "Our school community is worse off from her loss but her legacy of fighting for an equal education for all children will not soon be forgotten. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.”

Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski said he felt privileged to have been able to work alongside her, especially in the fight for educational equity for the students of East Ramapo.

"I am extremely saddened to hear the news of Regent Judith Johnson’s passing. A tireless advocate for education and equality, she has made an indelible impact on not only on our community, but the entire State," he said. "Regent Johnson changed the lives of countless students throughout her lifetime career in education and we were incredibly lucky to have her as our representative. We have lost a champion and fearless fighter for education in the Lower Hudson Valley. I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and the entire education community.”