About
Head of School Search
Meet Christopher Johnson
The Board of Trustees of Jacksonville Country Day School have chosen Christopher M. Johnson as the next Head of School. Mr. Johnson will succeed Mrs. Pat Walker, who will be retiring after 9 years as Head of School at JCDS, and more than 30 years as an educator. Mrs. Walker has been an integral part of the JCDS community since 1994 and her leadership has been transformative. Mr. Johnson was selected following an extensive nationwide search of top candidates. The transition will take place on July 1, 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the JCDS family. We believe that as Head of School, he will steward our school well into the future, leading with vision, passion, and integrity while valuing the traditions of excellence and innovation that are the hallmarks of a JCDS education,” said Justin Terry, Chair, Jacksonville Country Day School, Board of Trustees.
Mr. Johnson comes to us with a wealth of diverse teaching and school leadership experience that spans three continents. A teacher at heart and a lifelong learner, Mr. Johnson has a passion for education that has allowed him to build a skill set that reflects the cutting edge of leadership and curriculum development. His deep respect for the important work of the faculty and staff on his team promotes an environment of collaboration, trust, and excellence.
Mr. Johnson currently serves as the Head of Upper School for Scheck Hillel Community School in Miami, Florida. His prior experience includes working as a K-8 Assistant Principal, Teacher Trainer, Curriculum Coordinator, and Classroom Instructor on three different continents. Mr. Johnson believes that these experiences have instilled in him a diverse perspective, as well as adaptability and the relationship-building capacity to uniquely prepare him for this role.
Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and Political Science from the University of Arizona, a Postgraduate Teacher Certification in Secondary Education from Pima Community College, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction from Plymouth State University, and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership from the University of Arizona. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Upon his acceptance, Mr. Johnson shared the following: “I am thrilled to be the next Head of School, and our family could not be more excited to call JCDS home. We are humbled, honored, and grateful. The opportunity to lead JCDS is truly a dream come true. The emphasis on character education, high expectations coupled with ample opportunities for intellectual exploration, and unparalleled extracurricular offerings make it easy to see why JCDS is the obvious choice for informed parents in the area. We look forward to joining a strong institution ready to build for an even better future.”
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 6th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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