Profiles in education: Jill Johnson

Nate Hulings

of the Gateway

Regular school business took a back seat during last Thursday’s Peninsula School District Board of Directors meeting at Henderson Bay High School in Gig Harbor.

Principals, teachers, administrators and family came attended en masse to say thank you — and goodbye — to Director Jill Johnson, who is leaving her board position after nearly nine years with the district.

Between the laughs and tears, fellow board members and district administrators shared their memories and presented gifts to the woman who attended 198 board meetings, traveled around the world for the district and even testified before Congress in Washington, D.C.

Some of the surprises were Jimmy Buffet-themed (one of Johnson’s favorite artists), including the Peninsula Principals Association’s rewrite and performance of “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.” Other gifts included a pink flamingo and a wooden bench that boasted a Jimmy Buffet quote.

“I’ve never had a song sung about me,” Johnson said after the song ended.

A slideshow of photos also was presented, beginning with Johnson taking the Oath of Office in March 2001. It told a story of her countless hours spent at district schools, business trips and advocacy work on behalf of the district.

The dedication culminated with Johnson addressing the audience and the board.

“This is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life,” she said.

Afterward, The Peninsula Gateway caught up with Johnson about the evening, her past and her future with the school district.

The Peninsula Gateway: Can you describe the emotions of your final board meeting?

Jill Johnson: That was very humbling, very surprising — kind of overwhelming. Emotion wise, it was a lot tougher. I guess I’ve been kind of dreading it for a year, knowing it would have to come to an end.

It has been an incredible, rewarding ride. I was pretty emotional for the past few months. Family arranged to have a bunch of friends to come after the meeting so I wouldn’t have to come to an empty house.

I truly went into the meeting planning to have the polite “thank yous.” I was totally overwhelmed with the reception. That was a tribute that will stick with me forever. To have almost my entire family there was very, very appreciated.

PG: Singer Jimmy Buffet was a common theme throughout the night. What’s up with that?

JJ: My husband and I have been huge Jimmy Buffet fans back to 1991 with our visit to the British Virgin Islands, falling in love with the lifestyle Jimmy Buffet sang about. When you walk into our house, you walk into my tropical paradise. It feels like you’re still in the British Virgin Islands.

PG: Why did you decide to leave now?

JJ: It just came out of out the blue while celebrating my 50th birthday with my daughter in London. She asked what I wanted to do when I grew up. The first thing out of my mouth was to leave the school board and move on.

My four grandparents spent the end of their lives at Wesley Homes, so I’m now on the board of trustees. I’m starting to advocate for the elderly. Totally out of my expertise but very much something I want to do.

And it’s a way to give back to grandparents who gave so much to me when I grew up.

PG: You’ve spent more than eight years on the school board. What will you remember the most?

JJ: I’m going to remember the faces of all the kids. Every time I took a vote or had to make a tough decision, as I would sit there at the board table, it was the faces of all the kids I’d seen this week or month that I saw.

What’s going to help those faces the most? Can I look at those faces tomorrow, knowing that the vote I’ll take tonight could impact them, either positively or negatively?

Representing our district in China, starting a new exchange program with Peninsula High School. I was the head of the delegation because of my position on the board. I was seated next to all of these huge dignitaries. I was tested hard, because I was female, and blonde, blonde, blonde. I was tested to the limit.

Testifying before congressional hearings on the absurdity of elements of No Child Left Behind and the lack of funding for IDEA, and how it made a commitment in 1976. It’s now 34 years later and not even close to being fully funded.

Getting to go represent our district and advocating for our students is something I will take with me forever.

I’m really grateful that the district provided me those opportunities. And a platform allowing me to go out and advocate.

PG: You spoke about how tough it was to lay off teachers earlier this year. How hard was that for you?

JJ: That was the toughest decision I ever had to make. I went to every public meeting and had private meetings with (Superintendent) Terry Bouck and (Assistant Superintendent) Chuck Cuzzetto. I would sit at night with the big 150-page budget, going item by item. When it came down to the end, there was nothing we could find. It was the perfect storm.

I as a school board member, one of the oaths of office was to be fiscally responsible to the state of Washington and to have a balanced budget. I couldn’t, with good conscious or faith, vote for a budget that wasn’t balanced. This was the only way.

It was the toughest decision, because teachers are vital, and it was just the most heart-wrenching decision I’ve ever had to be a part of.

PG: What will you miss the most about the board?

JJ: We have an amazing working relationship, the board of directors now. I’m going to miss that Thursday routine, reviewing my packet for the second or third time, making sure all the questions are answered, knowing that something good is going to happen tonight. I’m going to miss that a lot.

I’ll miss the presentations, how the collaboration time was helping students across the district. That just shows the caliber in this district; it couldn’t be better.

PG: Anyone in particular you’d like to directly thank?

JJ: I’d like to thank my youngest daughter (Kjersti). Truly the only regret I have leaving, I won’t be able to award her her diploma on June 13. I got to do that with my oldest daughter.

(Kjersti’s) a trooper, and she’s good about it. She’s excited to have mom just being mom and not have to share me with 8,000 other kids. She’s never complained, not once about it. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude.