Johnson Elementary School - London, KY

Johnson Elementary School is a small but highly effective school located in beautiful Laurel County, Kentucky. Housed on a large campus amid farms and neighborhoods, the rural school serves about 270 students. The staff of 45 teachers and support personnel under the leadership of the principal, Mrs. Jamie Gilliam, strives daily to give students the instruction, environment, and encouragement they need.

Teachers and assistants work diligently to refine the instruction and materials to ensure that ALL students succeed in academics. The students and staff are very proud of achieving the status of a K-Prep School of Distinction. This achievement is based in part upon a rigorous schedule of classes that gives students both whole-group and small-group instruction.

The climate of Johnson Elementary School fosters success. Students experience a safe and orderly environment where the staff knows them well. Multi-generations of families have attended this school. These families as well as newcomers appreciate and support the care, encouragement, and emphasis on achievement. The community feels a sense of identification and pride in "our school" even though the original physical facility built in 1960 has been enlarged and updated.

Johnson Elementary School has so many other components (such as donations from benefactors, grants, an active PTO, and special events and programs) that make the school special. Yet, perhaps the most distinguishing factor is the motto that students and staff recite daily: Johnson Elementary-the way to be: respectful, responsible, and kind. This motto is the expectation for all.