Adam Johnson - "A Change Is Gonna Come"
Host Erika Washington interviews Adam Johnson, an appointed Clark County School District trustee, College Board executive director, and vice chair at Democracy Prep, during Black History Month about improving education in Southern Nevada. They discuss CCSD’s size, challenges, and efforts to become a “destination district,” including the decision to start high school later. Johnson shares how his father’s late-career teaching inspired his move from corporate work into education through Teach For America and then Democracy Prep, and how his all-male high school shaped his focus on academics, service, and expanding opportunity. They explore charter schools versus traditional and magnet options, emphasizing student fit and strong accountability for results. The conversation also addresses bridging parent-teacher divides through culturally competent communication, clear expectations, flexibility, and persistent outreach to build true school-family partnerships.
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (02:22) - Welcome and Guest Introduction
- (07:44) - Who is Adam Johnson?
- (10:19) - Journey into Education
- (14:33) - Charter Schools vs. Public Schools
- (19:35) - Magnet Schools Discussion
- (22:26) - All-Male High School Experience
- (25:27) - Parent-Teacher Communication
- (40:35) - School Start Time Decision
- (43:10) - Is CCSD Too Big?
- (47:06) - Running for Office
- (54:12) - What is Democracy?
- (58:43) - The American Dream
- (01:05:20) - Closing Thoughts
Creators and Guests
Guest
Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson is an educator and executive leader with a proven track record of driving student success at scale. As an Executive Director at the College Board, he leads a 12-state region to ensure more than 2 million students have the tools and testing access necessary to pursue the path of their choosing. Locally, Adam’s leadership spans from the classroom to the boardroom. He currently represents the community as a member of the Clark County School District Board of Trustees and serves as Vice Chair for Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus. Having served as DPAC’s founding Executive Director for six years, he is now guiding the institution through its transition to an independent charter school. Adam’s governance experience includes past service as Board President of the Nevada State Charter School Authority. He earned his MBA from George Washington University and remains an active advocate for Nevada's families. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife and two children."
