McGee’s Crossroads Middle teacher Madavia Johnson was crowned Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year by Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS). Johnson is a seventh grade English language arts and social studies teacher.

Johnson was thrilled to receive the honor. “This award means a lot to me, because it is a reflection of my love and the hard work that I put towards my students,” she said. “I come in every day with a positive attitude, hoping to leave a lasting impact on them.”

Born and raised in Columbus County, North Carolina, she came to the area as a first-year student at North Carolina State University, where she received her undergraduate degree in political science. Johnson continued living in Wake County for eight years, earning a graduate degree in information systems from North Carolina Central University.

During this time, she met her spouse, who happened to be a native of Johnston County. They decided to buy a house and raise their children here. “Johnston County is very family oriented, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to raise my kids,” Johnson said.

Before stepping into teaching eight months ago, Johnson was a stay-at-home mom, and found that Johnston County values family. She felt supported by the community, which only made her love it more.

When she decided to continue her career, she knew it was time to follow her passion - teaching.
Even though she has always loved politics and technology, she knew she was born to be a teacher. It just came naturally to Johnson.

In sixth grade, she was recruited by her church to teach Sunday school, which she continued teaching all the way up until her senior year of high school. The church was full of teachers, including new teachers, seasoned teachers, retired teachers, and even administrators. They all told Johnson she had “that gift”.

At that time, however, Johnson was more interested in a career that would pay a handsome salary, spending her first year in college studying to become a lawyer. “Even then, I knew that no matter what I did, down the line I wanted to teach,” she said. Another thing Johnson knew was that she wanted to teach social studies.

Johnson chose JCPS because of her involvement in North Carolina Teachers of Tomorrow, a program that places newly certified teachers in their local district. She interviewed with several schools within JCPS, one of which was McGee’s Crossroads Elementary. “There was something about McGee’s,” she recalled.

When she walked around the school and spoke with the staff and administrators, Johnson realized they were a team, and that’s what drew her in. Principal Larkeysha Sheppard offered her a position teaching social studies, her dream job, but with a twist.

She was also asked to teach English/Language Arts (ELA). Even though social studies was her passion, Johnson agreed to give it a try. “ELA became top notch for me. I love teaching ELA!” she exclaimed. Immersing herself in the curriculum, she found a way to make it her own. That’s what makes Johnson a great educator.

Johnson’s degrees in political science and information systems spill over into her teaching, not only in the knowledge that she gained, but the experiences she had. Those experiences taught her about different types of people and how to communicate well with others.

Although she spent just one year as a law student, Johnson also learned a lot about how the government works, complimenting her social studies curriculum. That has allowed her to provide more in-depth detail and provide real-world, relatable examples for her students. “That’s the key to my teaching,” she stated.

Johnson also uses these real world examples in her ELA classes. For a writing assignment she, first, asks her students to think about their favorite show or movie. Next, she breaks down the process of how it came to be. “Before it became a show, it was in writing,” she explains. Johnson then encourages them to create that show in their minds. Lastly, her instructions are to make their writing more interesting by making it larger than life.

That relatability connects Johnson to her students. Whether it’s learning or emotional support, she loves giving meaning to their lives. “That’s why I teach,” she said. Johnson wants to be a resource for her students even when they leave her classroom.

It’s no secret that middle school students are faced with lots of challenges. No longer in elementary school, and not yet in high school, there are a lot of changes that happen. Johnson loves guiding her students on that journey. “Middle school kids are fun!,” she said. Her joy comes from watching them find out who they are, and seeing their personalities come alive.

When her students make a mistake, whether in the classroom or outside of it, Johnson acknowledges that mistake with them, letting them know it’s OK. The biggest lesson comes in moving forward, and working with the students to figure out what to do in the future, so as not to make the same mistake twice. “I try to be a role model to them,” she said.

Johnson is characterized by her peers as a passionate and interactive teacher who loves what she does, and loves the people she does it for - the children. Nominated by her administrators, she was one of 34 candidates who went through an interview process. All 34 nominees were celebrated with a special ceremony for them and their families at Selma Elementary.

Johnson was one of three finalists revealed at the event, and was soon after given the honor of becoming JCPS 2023 Beginning Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year. In addition to the award, Johnson received $500 from Horace Mann.

Although she has been a teacher with JCPS for just eight short months, in that time she has made a long-lasting impact on her students. “This is what I was born to do,” Johnson said. She plans to continue making that impact until she retires from teaching.

Johnston County Public Schools is thankful that Johnson chose to teach in this district, and looks forward to many more years watching her fulfill her life’s purpose.

Johnston County Public Schools

Madavia Johnson named Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year