Celeste Johnson

Having accrued more than 40 years of dedication to her profession, Ms. Johnson has garnered a laudable reputation for helping students read fluently, as well as coaching her fellow educators in supporting their pupils. As a child, she struggled with reading, which led to her interest in learning about various types of learning disabilities, especially in reading. The more she understood about the process of her dyslexia, the more Ms. Johnson was able to experiment with, and ultimately find strategies that helped her students become better readers.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Worcester State College in 1976, and continued her academic efforts at Assumption College, completing a Master of Arts in English in 1984. From 1978 until 1988, Ms. Johnson taught middle school reading and language arts in Massachusetts. She relocated to Florida in 1988, and joined the Volusia County School District, where she retired in June of 2019 after 30 years of teaching. During her 30 years in Volusia County School District, she expanded her educational roles to include drop-out prevention, reading intervention, district reading and CRiss trainer, District Peer Assistance and Review teacher, Reading Coach, and ESE Support Facilitation teacher. Ms. Johnson was one of Volusia County School District's School Teacher of the Year nominees in 1999, earned the District Leadership Award, and served as the President of the Volusia Reading Council 2005-2007. She has shared her knowledge of reading in trainings, workshops and conferences with the International Reading Association, Florida Reading Association, Volusia County Reading Association, and Council for Exceptional Children during her teaching career.

One of Ms. Johnson's greatest achievements in using the program was when she worked with a bright 7th grader who was determined to learn to read and willing to meet with her each morning before school started. In October 2015 his oral reading score was at third grade level and by June 2016 his oral reading proficiency increased to an eighth grade level. As a result of his ability to read on grade level, he was placed in advanced math, science, and U.S. History classes. In April 2017, he was one of 12 recipients of the "Yes, I Can Award" a national award given by the Council of Exceptional Students. Of the 6 categories, he was recognized for academic achievement.

Ms. Johnson has found the work of her late friend and mentor Georgia Howard an inspiration and it is Ms. Johnson's fervent wish to share Ms. Howard's published work with others to ensure success, particularly with middle and high school students where other programs have failed.