KAREN I. DAVIS-JOHNSON

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) — Division of Operations
July 1, 2025 – Present

• Selected to establish and lead a newly created district role, designing the vision, structure, and implementation of sustainability and resilience across ~138 schools.
• Developed and operationalized a comprehensive Sustainability Framework, aligning Board Policy, DCSD Strategic Plan (2024–2029), and global best practices (UN SDGs).
• Lead integration of sustainability across instruction, operations, and community engagement, ensuring alignment with academic priorities.
• Partner with principals and school leadership teams to implement Green Teams, strengthening student leadership and school-based decision-making.
• Design and scale systems for recycling, waste reduction, outdoor learning environments, and environmental programming.
• Support integration of STEM/STEAM and sustainability education, connecting real-world applications to classroom instruction.
• Establish baseline metrics, data systems, and tracking tools to monitor district progress and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Business Services, School Nutrition Services, Facilities, and community partners to expand district impact.
• Lead district-wide communications, campaigns (e.g., Earth Week), and stakeholder engagement strategies.

Key Impact:

• Increased Green Team implementation from 8% to 12% fully implemented schools within one month.
• Built foundational systems to support district-wide sustainability scaling through 2029 and beyond.

• Accomplishments - yearly increase in achievement score for CCRPI, 70% rate on closing the gap.
• Established partnerships with various stakeholders to ensure the success of all students
• Oversees the implementation of the instructional program to ensure that all students had access to rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
• Provided leadership for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating research-based instructional practices that provided the greatest evidence of improved student achievement.
• Implemented high-quality professional development to support student learning and improve teacher performance.
• Led the development and implementation of clear and attainable goals to ensure high levels of student achievement.
• Set and monitored great expectations for high levels of student and staff performance.
• Provided leadership for the ongoing analysis and interpretation of student performance data to improve the quality of classroom instruction and student achievement.
• Developed and supports a highly effective school instructional leadership team.
• Oversees the selection, evaluation, and implementation of research-based technology tools to support the instructional program.
• Provided leadership for the development of the school's budgets, ensuring that budget decisions provide optimal support for school-based needs and student achievement.
• Established and modeled positive and supportive staff/student relationships.
• Modeled and ensured that all staff members establish and nurture positive and supportive relationships with students and families.
• Developing and implementing policies, procedures, and programs that facilitate student success, including support services, extracurricular activities, and academic advancement opportunities.
• Supports new leaders in cluster and region by mentoring, modeling, and collaboration on instructional and operational procedures.
• Effective leader training for Academic, and instructional support team.
• Enrollment – 657; 99% African American; 1% Multiracial; 16% Students with Disabilities; 100% Economically Disadvantaged; DeKalb, Georgia; Urban; Title I/ Priority School; 105 Faculty and Staff members

• Interact effectively with students to promote positive attitudes towards the school programs
• Implemented our school expectations on student achievement and character development through the creation and execution of our School Improvement Plan
• Analyzed student achievement, teaching, and learning data to strategically improve the overall operations of the school
• Gathered, analyzed, and utilized data to drive instructional planning and practices for all teachers
• Facilitated budget planning for Title I with campus principal
• Lead school professional and regional professional development activities
• Foster targeted professional development and was capable of coaching and motivating employees
• Responsible for serving as an instructional leader for approximately 125 faculty and staff
• Facilitated positive inter-department working relationships between students, teachers, staff, and parents
• Evaluated student issues and determined appropriate consequences based on the Districts Student Code of Conduct
• Supervised Student Services Team and Secretarial Staff
• Operate as a school wide testing coordinator for George Milestone End of Grade and MAPs assessment which includes the following responsibilities: communicating with district level assessment office concerning testing procedures and irregularities, conducting faculty/staff testing in-services, creating a testing schedule that does not compromise testing yet continues to preserve instructional time, ensure tests are administered in accordance with the state department and district level protocol, disseminate testing materials, and prepare testing materials for shipment and check-in
• Coordinate with ITT to initiate and oversee online testing
• Mentor Teachers and provide guidance dealing with classroom management, curriculum development, staff concerns, and teacher communication with parents
• Improve school wide attendance each year through development and implementation of innovative strategies
• Lead interim assessment cycle and administration of the Pre and Post Unit Assessment and data collection
• Monitor instruction and assessments for Science, ELA, Connections, and 7th Grade
• Manage School Improvement plan with a focus on future sustainability
• Manage $300,000.00 + dollars in annual title I budget, maximizing impact on instruction through staffing, coaching, and targeted professional development
• Identified and organized professional development opportunities to address gaps in staff teaching and student learning
• Implement intervention plan in the student discipline process
• Supervised hiring of personnel; Actively involved in the interviewing and hiring of faculty and staff for school, regional, and district
• Conduct teacher evaluations and support individual teacher improvement models
• Launched well-received online professional development model

• Provide additional support to guidance team as needed
• Supervise and facilitate effective instruction for all grade levels
• Assist principal in managing all operations on the school campus
• Conducted professional development for administrators, teachers, and counselors as per state guidelines (TKES, LKES Support Staff)
• Presenter for implementing best practices to enhance positive school culture and climate
• Facilitate weekly meeting with team leaders and subject area leaders to evaluate classroom and school performance
• Facilitate the PBIS process to ensure quality instruction and school wide attendance, and behavior supports are delivered to all students
• Facilitated the AdvancED accreditation committee and process
• Managed the documents to ensure the executive summary, narrative, self-assessment, stakeholders survey, and continuous improvement plan were completed in a timely manner.
• Operate as a school wide testing coordinator for AP Tests, EOC, GHSGT, GHSWT, PSAT/SAT, GAA, ACCESS, and District Benchmarks assessment which includes the following responsibilities: communicating with district level assessment office concerning testing procedures and irregularities, conducting faculty/staff testing in-services, creating a testing schedule that does not compromise testing yet continues to preserve instructional time, ensure tests are administered in accordance with the state department and district level protocol, disseminate testing materials, and prepare testing materials for shipment and check-in
• Provide administrative oversight to the Leadership Team to improve school wide attendance each year through development and implementation of innovative strategies
• Prepared professional learning activities for faculty/staff
• Managed discipline and student behavior
• Resolved conflicts/grievances and settle disputes
• Facilitated budget planning for Title I with campus principal Lead school professional and regional professional development activities
• Foster targeted professional development and was capable of coaching and motivating employees
• Responsible for serving as an instructional leader for approximately 125 faculty and staff
• Facilitated positive inter- department working relationships between students, teachers, staff, and parents
• Evaluated student issues and determined appropriate consequences based on the Districts Student Code of Conduct
• Supervised Student Services Team and Secretarial Staff
• Coordinate with ITT to initiate and oversee online testing
• Mentor Teachers and provide guidance dealing with classroom management, curriculum development, staff concerns, and teacher communication with parents
• Improve school wide attendance each year through development and implementation of innovative strategies
• Lead interim assessment cycle and administration of the Pre and Post Unit Assessment and data collection
• Monitor instruction and assessments for CTAE, Science, and Special Education
• Implement intervention plan in the student attendance process
• Participated in hiring of personnel; Actively involved in the interviewing and hiring of faculty and staff for school, regional, and district
• Conduct teacher evaluations and support individual teacher improvement models
• Supervise and facilitate effective instruction for all grade levels
• Assist principal in managing all operations on the school campus
• Facilitate weekly meeting with team leaders and subject area leaders to evaluate classroom and school performance
• Managed the textbook process, including the students text book budget
• Managed the transportation process, and faculty & staff duties to monitor morning, and afternoon dismissal

• Operated as the testing administrator for the EOCT to include training staff, preparing schedules, disseminating testing, materials, and preparing testing materials for shipment
• Overseen school wide discipline
• Prepared and maintain discipline records
• Made decisions and solved problems by analyzing information and selecting the best solution
• Resolved conflicts/grievances and settled disputes
• Managed discipline and student behavior
• Developed emergency response plan for schools as required the state and federal education agencies
• Conducted and reported severe weather plans and drills
• Assist in annual faculty/staff evaluations
• Provided guidance for students, parents, and staff
• Met with staff to discuss policies and professional training
• Supported committees of staff and parents that function to improve student learning and social environment
• Encourages a positive school climate
• Developed the school wide attendance protocol to minimize student absences, that would impact our school report card
• Served as the Chair of the DeKalb County School System Middle School Health Education curriculum revision team
• Served on the local school Southern Accreditation of Colleges and schools (SACS) Committee as the SACS Content
• Performed other duties as assigned by the school principal

• Prepared and maintain attendance records for faculty and staff
• Provided administrative oversight for attendance/noncompliance
• Managed data support for school reporting
• Created Duty schedules for faculty and staff to ensure we have complete student supervision
• Provided administrative oversight to the social studies, vocational/business, and ROTC departments
• Manage discipline and student behavior
• Assisted in annual faculty/staff evaluations
• Provide guidance for students, parents, and staff

• Created middle school health education lesson plans
• Created and implemented lessons in the areas of Health and Physical Education
• Taught health and physical education
• Served as the Department Chairperson in Health and Physical Education
• Conducted observations using the Georgia Teacher Observation Instrument (GTOI)
• Facilitator
• Served on the leadership team
• Assisted with the master schedule
• Assisted with the testing process
• Participated in the data collection process for the CSIP
• Acted as the Local Hearing Officer
• Served on the Safe School Committee
• Served on the Attendance Committee
• Served as the Honors Night Committee Chairperson
• Co-Founder of the junior sorority for pre-teen girl the PEARLS

• In the area of Health and Physical Education
• Conducted observations using the Georgia Teacher Observation Instrument (GTOI)
• Served on the local school Southern Accreditation of Colleges and schools (SACS) Committee as the SACS Content
• Facilitator
• Served on the leadership team
• Assisted with the master schedule
• Assisted with the testing process
• Participated in the data collection process for the CSIP
• Acted as the Local Hearing Officer
• Served on the Safe School Committee
• Served on the Attendance Committee
• Served as the Honors Night Committee
• Coach the 8th Grade Cheerleaders
• Coach the Junior

• Created and implemented lessons in the areas of Health and Physical Education
• Taught health and physical education

• Coach to the Girls 8th Grade Basketball Team
• Coach to the Junior Varsity Cheerleaders

• Taught Health and Physical Education