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...”
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CIU Today
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Spring 2019
CIU NEWS