Each month, we'll be featuring school board members in an effort to learn more about the wonderful individuals serving on our boards!

Jan Johnson began serving on the school board less than three months ago. While she may be new to school board service, her commitment to serving others has always been evident. She is on a mission to help shape the future of her community by ensuring students in Pike Road Schools receive the necessary tools and support for success!

Read below to learn more about Jan!

Q: What is your current occupation?

A: I am currently the president of Alaska Northstar Resources, a local technology company. In this role, I am responsible for the overall leadership and direction of all activities related to the company’s nationwide portfolio of federal government contracts.

I’m also an Air Force Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran. I’ve served in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves. I believe that military service helped instill a sense of commitment to serving others. 

Q: What inspired you to pursue a position on the school board?

A: My inspiration to pursue a position on our school board comes from my passion for STEM education and my desire to give back to the community. Having served on the IT Advisory Committee for local schools and being involved in volunteer opportunities to share more about STEM careers, I have seen firsthand the impact that dedicated leadership can have on educational outcomes. I want to continue to be a voice and advocate for students and educators, ensuring that our schools provide the best possible environment for learning and growth.

Q: How do you feel about joining the board? What excites you the most?

A: I am incredibly excited to serve on our school board. What excites me the most is the opportunity to leave a lasting mark and legacy by influencing positive change and growth within our school system. I love being a part of something new and helping to see it grow. Our town and school system are great ways to help shape the future for what we will see unfold for years to come. More importantly, my kids and their friends get an opportunity to see me work to make things better for them!

Q: What are some of the key issues or goals you hope to address as a new board member?

A: As a new board member, I hope to address several key issues, including improving STEM education, enhancing technology career awareness, and ensuring equitable access to educational resources for all students. Additionally, I aim to support initiatives that foster a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Q: Are there any special initiatives or projects you’re eager to contribute to or start with the board?

A: I am most excited to see our new high school take shape, especially since we recently broke ground. This new school will help us ensure all of our students and educators are equipped with the proper learning environment and resources for success. I was actively involved in advocating for support of the new school, going door to door as a family to rally community backing. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the results of our efforts. My children and future generations will experience the benefits of something we worked toward together as a family and community.

Q: As a new member, what do you hope to learn or gain from your experience on the school board?

A: As a new member, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our school system. I am eager to learn from our superintendent and my fellow board members. I’m also looking forward to gaining more insights into how all aspects of funding, legislation and policy impact our school operations.

As a new board member, I’ve already quickly realized that it takes a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes -- much of which is rarely seen by the general public. The more I learn, the more I appreciate that work. I look forward to using this gained experience and knowledge to help improve communication so parents and others can also understand the “why” behind certain decisions. Ultimately, I want to use this experience to increase awareness while also becoming a more effective advocate for not only students and educators, but also parents and other stakeholders.

Q: What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of your role as a board member?

A: Outside of my role as a board member, I enjoy spending time with my family— my husband and our three children. All three children are actively involved in sports, so I spend quite a bit of my time acting as a self-trained cheer, softball, football personal coach and “MOMager". We are also active members of our local church and love serving our community. I also have a passion for participating in IT and STEM-related events and panels. Lastly, I enjoy astronomy and studying (and chasing) scientific phenomena.

Q: Finish the sentence. One thing you should know about me is…

A: One thing you should know about me is that I am deeply committed to ensuring everyone has a voice. Understanding the perspective of others is very important and I take pride in being an advocate for those uncomfortable using their voice as well as those who don’t understand they are entitled to a voice. All voices and perspectives are important, especially when we are in an environment that consists of so many backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. I believe every voice matters.

Q: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote or mantra that motivates you?

A: I often refer to quotes by Brene Brown but probably the most appropriate motivational mantra she uses is -- “Courage over comfort”. We face many uncomfortable situations. Pursuing a seat on our school board was one of those uncomfortable moments for me. As I’m learning my way, there will continue to be uncomfortable situations, and I won’t have all the answers, but that’s ok. I believe in embracing vulnerability and imperfection. We have to be brave enough to fail, so that we can learn and move towards solutions. That courage in hard situations will help us tackle the difficult problems and prioritize what’s really important— our schools, our children and our future.

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