Martha M. Johnson

Martha Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida. She is the third oldest of six children. At an early age, she was favored to be the one chosen to live with her grandmother, Martha in Yalaha, Florida where she received her early elementary education. She later attended schools in Daytona Beach, Florida and Jacksonville, Florida. She is a graduate of Nathan B. Forest High School.

After graduation, she moved to Milford, Connecticut where her sister and brother-in-law live. This move initiated a major transition in Martha’s life. She was coerced tirelessly by her brother-in-law to attend community college. After she convinced herself to go, she enrolled in Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT and soon after, received her first college degree, an Associate of Arts. She then enrolled and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT with a Bachelor of Science degree.

In 1980, Martha decided to move back to Florida and to pursue the field of education. Her first teaching job was at a special education center for mentally challenged students and was eventually awarded Most Valuable Teacher. At this junction, she also taught adult evening classes at a halfway house at the then known “Florida Junior College - Gateway Community Services”, now named Florida State College of Jacksonville. Later, she was assigned to serve as a guidance counselor after earning her Master of Education in Guidance Counseling from the University of North Florida. Ms. Johnson continued on to complete a second Masters program in Educational Leadership from Jacksonville University. This opportunity afforded her to grow into higher positions of administration including Assistant Principal and Vice Principal in various public schools.

Martha’s favorite theme is “to serve…” and although she has maintained a successful and steady career in education, she also remains faithful to her church organization, The Church of God by Faith. The Unsung Hero Award, Award for Dedicated Service to the Sunday School Department (Nursery/Kindergarten Teacher), and the Award for 20 Years of Service from the National Children’s Ministry are just some of the accolades she has received.

Currently, Martha continues to work for Duval County Schools. She was recently given the Beyond the Call of Duty Award from Lake Shore Middle School in June 2010 and serves as a Support Facilitator. She is also a regular volunteer at the Heartland Nursing Facility and was a regular volunteer at Saint Catherine Labour Manor Nursing Home for 10 years. She serves her church organization as the Nursery Sunday School teacher, the National Children’s Ministry Coordinator, the Pastor’s Support Committee member, Chairman of the Prayer Intercessors and Clothes Distribution Ministries, a Tri-District Soul Winners Conference Committee Member, District Finance Board member, and a member of the National Christian Board of Education.

Martha is an avid bible reader, a woman of faith, one who is given to much prayer, and loves Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”