Real Schools, Real Impact: The Leadership Moves Behind Strong Writing Instruction with Denise Johnson
In this episode of Literacy Matters: Empowered Conversations, Denise Johnson, Curriculum Director and Building Principal at Lawrence Public Schools in Kansas, shares how district leaders can strengthen writing instruction through intentional scheduling, explicit modeling, and classroom-level support. From oral language foundations to sentence-level instruction, Denise discusses bridging theory to practice and why writing is often the missing link in literacy efforts. This conversation offers practical leadership insights for turning research into real classroom impact.
Thought Leader: Denise Johnson - Curriculum Director/Building Principal
Denise Johnson began her career teaching second through fourth grades in Topeka, KS and later taught sixth grade and served as a K–5 building principal in DeSoto. She has her masters in ESL and administration. Denise taught ESL in Lawrence, KS and later transitioned to the district level as a coach, mentor, and curriculum director. She completed the LETRS training for teachers, LETRS training for principals, and currently is a LETRS facilitator for the state of Kansas.
This past year, she returned to the building level to work more closely with students and staff on literacy. Collaborating directly with teachers has deepened her understanding of the needs at all levels. Her experience as a principal has reinforced her belief in the power of curriculum and the importance of partnering with educators and students to support learning effectively. While she has cherished every role in her career, nothing compares to the joy of teaching a child to read. Denise is pursuing her doctorate in Literacy to continue fostering a love of reading and empowering educators to transform literacy instruction.
Get to Know the Host: Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift
Cheryl holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, is a distinguished educational leader, and has been recognized with multiple awards for her achievements. She served as the lead curriculum developer for Learning Without Tears' Get Set for School Language and Literacy curriculum, which received an AEP Distinguished Achievement Award, and was awarded the Investors Bank Educator of the Year Award.
Check out more seasons and episodes of Literacy Matters: Empowered Conversations