Episode 4: Creating Space: Keeping the Door Open for Others with Dr. Paula Johnson

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Paula Johnson, the principal of Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, which happens to be the host's alma mater. Dr. Johnson's passion for math and education began at a young age, leading her to become a tutor for the Upward Bound program. She shares her savvy strategy for landing her first teaching position with the help of Virginia State University's Career Services. Drawing from her own experiences, she offers valuable advice on navigating the job market when starting out as a teacher and shares interview tips she received from one of her doctoral mentors. The conversation continues as Dr. Johnson shares her journey back home to Landstown after years of teaching and leadership at other schools. She discusses the routines of being an administrator and concludes on a positive note - nothing brings her more joy than supporting and witnessing her students' success. Their conversation ends with Dr. Johnson reminding the host that she's from Brooklyn, and of course, she likes Hip Hop :-)