New Sterlington principal Doll Ann Johnson is a product of the Ouachita Parish School System.
She graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1999. She was not an athlete or a cheerleader, but her competitiveness and spirit for Sterlington High School is evident as soon as she starts talking about the place she has called home for the past 17 years.
“There is such a sense of pride when you come here and become a Panther,” Johnson said. “We’ve just got it going on out here. It’s a great school. I’m not saying we’re perfect, but it’s just such a lovely place to be.”
It’s not a surprise that Johnson is in education.
Her mother, aunt, cousins and other family members were all teachers. In fact, her great uncle was also the Sterlington principal in the late 80s/early 90s.
However, Johnson did not start her career in education. She graduated in marketing, and managed Professional Pharmacy Services, and that start has made a big difference on her path to administration.
“I got a lot of good experience managing employees and seeing what it looks like to do that,” Johnson said. “My experience in the real world, managing a multi-million dollar business. I was the manager. I was over all of payroll, money, everything like that. That helps me in this seat right here.”
After 10 years in the “real world,” Johnson went back to school and got her Master’s in Special Education. She started her education career at Cherry Ridge Elementary, and taught every grade level from Kindergarten to 6th in her two years in Morehouse Parish. During that time, she and her husband built a house in the Sterlington school district, unbeknownst to her that is where she would end up.
“It’s a great community,” Johnson said. “In my opinion, the Sterlington system is the best system in Ouachita Parish. I wanted my kids to go here. It’s a great little town. Everybody still knows everybody. You still feel safe with your kids running around. We built out here so we could be where the best schools are.”
Johnson first came to Sterlington when the middle and high school were one school. In her first year, she taught 6th-12th grade as a resource teacher to fill in for a teacher that was on sabbatical. She enjoyed the school so much that when the teacher came back the following year, Johnson didn’t want to leave. There was an opening for an English teacher, so she went back to school to get certified in English.
The cycle continued with the school needing a gifted teacher and then a counselor, so Johnson went back to school a couple of more times to become certified in those areas.
“I think what I bring to this role is experience at every level of education – 1st through 12th,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen what they do on all grade levels – elementary, middle and high. I’ve taught multiple subject areas. I feel like I have a very diverse background in education with all grade levels and with all different types of learners, resource all the way to gifted.”
Once Johnson made the leap from the classroom, she knew her entire career path had molded her for an opportunity to become principal. She spent 3 and a half years as a counselor, then became assistant principal in January 2016.
“I just feel like I thrive on this side of the line,” Johnson said. “I just feel like I’m very good at what I do here, as far as making sure the school has what it needs, making sure the SPS stays where it is and making sure things are organized effectively. I love taking care of people. I love taking care of the teachers. I love making sure they have what they need and making sure their buckets are filled.”
Johnson spent the past 7 years under then-principal Jason Thompson, who left this past March to become the personnel director of the Ouachita Parish School System. She considers herself lucky that she learned under a former coach-turned-administrator, pointing out it’s not something every future principal gets.
“Just sitting and listening to him talk to students, talk to faculty, talk to parents,” Johnson said. “I just learned to be very intentional with what you say, how you say it, to get your point across, and make sure what you’re speaking is the truth and what’s needed and is valuable. Just listening to him and watching him command a room and a school, I would not get that from anybody else. He’s just great at that.”
The competitiveness of a coach has rubbed off on Johnson, who is just as eager, if not more, to be the best.
“I want to make sure we excel and do our absolute best in the school building and outside on the field as well,” Johnson said. “Our kids deserve that. They deserve for us to put in 110 percent every day that we walk through the door.
“That’s how I’m going to work. That’s how I’m going to encourage our teachers to work. That’s how I’m going to encourage our kids to work, because if you’re not going at it with your very best, then why even do it?”
THE JOHNSON FILE:
2004-2006: Cherry Ridge Elementary
2006-2013: Sterlington High School
2013-2016: Sterlington High School, Counselor
2016-2023: Sterlington High School, Assistant Principal
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