Nick Johnson, 35, is the new principal at Fort Scott Preschool Center.
He is not new to the district school system, however.
“I have worked in the USD 234 school district for the last thirteen years,” Johnson said. “I began my career teaching second grade at Eugene Ware Elementary. After the two elementary schools became attendance centers, I moved to Winfield Scott where I continued to teach second grade for nine more years. For the last three years, I have been teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies at Fort Scott Middle School.”
Since graduating from Fort Scott High School in 2005, Johnson earned an associate’s degree from Fort Scott Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University, and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Emporia State University.
His hometown is Fort Scott.
His wife, Amanda, is also an educator who teaches elementary music at Jayhawk Elementary in Mound City. They have two sons- Leighton, 13, and Reid, 7.
When not teaching, he is involved in his children’s sports activities.
“My boys enjoy sports, so when I’m not at school, I am often coaching youth football, basketball, or baseball,” he said.
How did you choose to become a teacher?
“I worked part-time at The Keyhole Youth Center while attending FSCC. I enjoyed getting to know the youth who frequented the center and being a positive influence in their lives. That experience led me to explore the field of education.”
Is there someone who inspired you?
“While attending Fort Scott schools, I was fortunate to have many great teachers who influenced my career choice.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The best part about being an educator is having the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of our youth.”
What are the challenges?
“The biggest challenge we are facing at the preschool is the lack of physical space to meet the current demand for early childhood education services. We are looking forward to working with the district administration, school board, and community to develop a solution to meet the needs of our community.”