Susan Johns, M.A.
Associate Professor of Education
Contact
Phone: 860.231.5336
E-mail:
sjohns@sjc.edu
Department Web Page: Department of Child Study/ Education/ Special Education
Professor Susan Johns' career is a tribute to the love of teaching. "Everything I do is about teaching," she says, "I am deeply concerned with the state of public education. It's my passion." Professor Johns is a 30-year veteran of various inner-city public school systems, and her last teaching job was in Detroit. She describes her tenure there as "very satisfying, because I saw with my own eyes that those kids could learn."
One of Professor Johns' major influences is the work of James Comer. When she was teaching in public education systems, she was involved in the Comer School Development Program through Yale University. This helped to her to put educational theories into practical application.
Now that she is at Saint Joseph College, Professor Johns' goal is to help her students "make connections to experiences and expand their thinking into current issues in education." Two aspects that are necessary for a teacher to have, according to Professor Johns, are "a compassionate heart," one that has a passion to teach all children; and a "rigorous mind," one that questions educational practices, reflects on what one does, and tries to improve performance over time.
Professor Johns also enjoys the College's reputation. She comments, "You can go anywhere and say that you teach at Saint Joseph College and everyone respects that."
Degrees
M.A., Western Michigan University
B.A., Western Michigan University
Research/Publications
Johns, S., "Educating Multicultural Students Using the Comer Model," Child Development, July 2001.
