Lifelong Bulldog Takes Assistant Principal Post at Dogwood

As the next academic year nears, Kearney School District's Dogwood Elementary School is welcoming a new member to its leadership team.

Sydney Johnson is joining Dogwood Elementary as the school's new Assistant Principal. Ms. Johnson is filling the job recently opened when former Dogwood Assistant Principal Kathleen Bahan moved up to Dogwood Principal.

Johnson is a lifelong Bulldog and a member of Team KSD who is taking on a new role. She grew up in Kearney, has children in the district, and taught fourth grade at Kearney Elementary during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Her path toward school administration began in 2019 as a member of the Liberty Public Schools' Leadership Academy and the Building Leadership Team at Ridgeview Elementary, where she taught fifth grade. She was also part of the district's English Language Arts collaboration committee for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Johnson is looking forward to continuing to contribute to the community she's proud to call her home.

"In pursuing the Assistant Principal role at Dogwood Elementary, I was driven by a deep-rooted commitment to serve the vibrant community that made me who I am today," she said. "With a passion for fostering academic excellence, nurturing student growth, and collaborating with dedicated educators, I am eager to contribute my skills and experience toward enhancing the educational experience for all students at Dogwood!"

As an elementary school assistant principal in Kearney School District, Johnson will take the lead in supporting, supervising and disciplining students in a way that promotes their growth and reinforces positive classroom outcomes. She will also coordinate with Bahan to address a wide array of daily operational needs across the campus.

During the search process for the Assistant Principal position, Ms. Bahan was impressed with Johnson's combination of classroom experience, leadership skills and passion for serving students, their families and her colleagues.

"We are excited to welcome Mrs. Johnson to the Dogwood community," Bahan said. "I am confident she will bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that will benefit our students, staff, and families. As a KSD graduate, Ms. Johnson has a deep knowledge of the Kearney School District and is committed to fostering a positive school culture. Her passion for education, dedication to student success, and collaborative spirit make her a perfect fit for Dogwood Elementary."

Before joining Kearney School District last year, Johnson taught at Ridgeview Elementary starting in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Education Leadership and a Specialists in Superintendency degree, all from Northwest Missouri State University.

Ray Weikal contributed to this story.