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r. Michael Johnson says he loves

routine. “I like my toothbrush in the

same place every day” is the way he

states it.

But when you’re Alaska’s education

commissioner, life is not always routine.

Not only does Johnson, a CIU alumnus,

supervise over 50 school districts serving

about 131,000 students, the job also

requires him to manage the State Museum

and Archives.

And then there was the November 2018

earthquake in Anchorage where for a

week he toured the most heavily damaged

schools and huddled with local school

officials to discuss how to move forward for

the remainder of the school year.

“When you walk through some of the

buildings and see some of the damage and

realize that no one was killed or seriously

injured, you just have to say that is the

providence of God, and thank Him for that

providence,” Johnson said.

Johnson also acknowledges God’s

providence that led him into a career in

education — a decision born out of a lunch

conversation with the late CIU Professor

Cliff Bedell. Early in his college career

Johnson was studying for the ministry and

had taken summer missions trips to Alaska

where he became acquainted with many of

the indigenous people. But he also had a

growing interested in education.

“In his wisdom, Professor Cliff Bedell

assured me that serving as an educator was

entirely in keeping with God’s call to serve

Him in ministry,” Johnson said.

Johnson would go on to earn two degrees

from CIU; a bachelor’s degree in 1994, and

Alaska Education Commissioner

shaped by a biblical worldview

CIU alumnus Michael Johnson continues in top

education role under new governor

By Bob Holmes

a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1997. Since

then he earned his doctorate in education

and intercultural studies from the University

of Alaska Fairbanks.

Before becoming education commissioner,

Johnson worked in Alaska as a principal,

district superintendent, elementary teacher,

and special education program assistant.

He has served as education commissioner

since 2016 and was retained by Alaska’s

new governor Mike Dunleavy in November

where together Johnson says they are

working toward a “just education system for

the kids in the state.” Among the challenges

are cultural differences.

“Anchorage is one of the most diverse

cities in the country with over 90 languages

present in the school system,” Johnson

explained. “Culture is a beautiful thing

and we have indigenous cultures and we

have dying languages that need to be

revitalized.” So immersion schools in some

of those languages have been established.

He also calls it “tragic” that Alaska is “dead

last in reading in fourth grade” something he

is determined to change. “We as Alaskans

need to be so dissatisfied with that … that

we’ll do whatever it takes to change it.”

But he says just listing reasons for the problem

is not where the discussion should begin.

D

“IN ALL OF LIFE, CIU TAUGHT

ME TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL

AND COMMITTED TO A

BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW...”

8

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CIU Today

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Spring 2019

CIU NEWS