Ginger Johnson

Why are you seeking this office, and what experience or perspective best prepares you to serve effectively?

“Years ago I received a message on Facebook from a young woman who I supervised way back when I was a juvenile officer, thanking me for helping her turn her life around. It wasn’t her fault that her parents were on drugs, that she had no support at home, and no functioning adults in her life. She was bound to make some real mistakes, for this was the prologue to her story, written for her as a child. But through systems of both care and consequence, we were able to show her a different way; that’s what many of our kids need — to see there is a different path and that education can pave the way to it. Our school district has some incredible strengths, but we can always do better — and that’s what I will advocate for. In my current position, I provide mental and behavioral health counseling throughout three separate school districts. With 16 years of working with families and a Master of Social Work, I have a rare and distinctive perspective into the strengths and challenges of our kids and our community.”

What do you see as the most important issue facing your district right now, and what specific actions would you take to address it if elected?

“My dad used to say, ‘Ginger, teachers have it easy … short work days, summers off,’ … and everyone’s favorite — ‘those who can’t DO, teach.’ It wasn’t until I started working inside of schools that I realized how wrong he was! I see with my own eyes that our public school teachers are putting in CEO-level hours and effort but barely treading water under the crushing pressure of testing and standards. And with the LEARNS Act sending education off into the free market, our public schools are now starting to feel the pain, as planned. So how does our public school compete in this environment when it is the only one with rules to follow? Both the benefits and consequences of this law are still being unpacked. Authentically seeking input from staff, students, and the community to find ways to compete — to strike a balance between academic standards and everyone’s mental and emotional health, will require curiosity and an open mind, which I possess in ample supply.”

How do you approach budgeting, taxpayer dollars and long-term financial responsibility at the level of government you are seeking to serve?

“Eureka is in the unique position of being almost entirely funded by local taxpayers, receiving minimal federal or state money, therefore it is especially important that we seek input from our parents, the community, students, and teachers to make sure those dollars are serving the highest and best use.”