Mrs. Johnson had beautiful penmanship; she wore colorful dresses to school and demanded excellence. She was also keenly aware that school had to matter to us beyond our grades; we needed a survival plan. Mrs. Johnson taught as if the fate of her and her children was tied to ours. She shared stories with her students of her childhood in New Orleans. She was vulnerable in front of the class. She called home to speak to your parents about you as a person, not just a student. She had a sense of responsibility for her students, and we were a family. You did not want to disappoint Mrs. Johnson
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