MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – A who’s-who of local education shined the spotlight on Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean and her dedication to improving the quality of public education in the Mid-South.
She was the former superintendent of Memphis City Schools and is now the interim president of LeMoyne-Owen College.
Organizers of Tuesday night’s celebration say Dr. Johnson-Dean helped launch leadership development programs at dozens of schools in the former Memphis City School district, reaching thousands of students and teachers.
Fellow educators say she is as inspirational as she is humble.
“I don’t really like celebrations that honor me. So I feel a little bit uncomfortable with that, and I do, because there’s so many people that go into making something successful. And I’m really here to honor all of those people whom I’ve had a chance to work with and learn from,” said Dr. Johnson-Dean.
The event at the National Civil Rights Museum was to celebrate Johnson-Dean’s next chapter at LeMoyne-Owen. She’s taking over after the Board of Trustees chose not to renew the contract for the former president, who came under fire after being accused of plagiarizing televangelist Joel Osteen.