LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Stacey Dallas Johnston was nominated by Jennifer Rios, a colleague.

"I am nominating my colleague Stacey Dallas Johnston because I, along with many others, know she is a LifeChanger. You could ask 100s of students, colleagues, her family, and they would all say the same thing," said Rios. "When I previously nominated her, she had left her 17 prior years of being an award-winning educator and Teacher of the Year finalist at a high achieving magnet school for the arts to take her passions and knowledge to a new environment."

At the time of her last nomination, Ms. Johnston was at Mission High School in Las Vegas, where she taught grades 9-12 and spearheaded the development of an arts integration program for the students. Mission High is a unique institution exclusively serving students in juvenile justice and substance abuse recovery. In just four years, she successfully motivated previously credit-deficient students to take and pass AP-level classes. Ms. Johnston established a community of artists who generously volunteered their time and resources to teach students guitar, painting, drawing, and spoken word poetry. In the absence of electives at MHS, she created opportunities for students to excel in the arts, resulting in award-winning poets, published authors, and successful guitar performances. Her achievements were genuinely inspiring.

After four impactful years at Mission, a new opportunity arose for Ms. Johnston. She received a competitive scholarship to attend UNLV for the Educational Policy and Leadership program. Ms. Johnston was one of 21 teachers chosen to enhance their leadership skills in urban education. Despite her deep attachment to Mission, Ms. Johnston recognized it was time to explore new horizons. She transitioned to the largest comprehensive high school in the city while simultaneously becoming a full-time student and managing family responsibilities as a mother of two. Her dedication to this new chapter in education was unwavering.

Ms. Johnston is the strategist and interventionist at Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas. In this role, she mentors nine new teachers individually and provides comprehensive support. She is a versatile educator who coaches teachers, oversees discipline, supervises lunch duties, and delivers school-wide professional development sessions. Yet, what distinguishes Ms. Johnston and prompted this nomination is her extraordinary commitment beyond these responsibilities.

Ms. Johnston initiated a mentoring program at Desert Oasis High School after identifying recurring behavioral and attendance issues among certain students. This initiative led to the creation of the Mentor Center. Since October, Ms. Johnston and seven other staff members have conducted weekly check-ins with at-risk 9th and 10th graders. Each mentor is responsible for 3-4 students, fostering discussions on academic goals, attendance, and personal challenges. Using her expertise in PBIS and restorative justice practices, Ms. Johnston trains mentors to navigate challenging conversations while offering encouragement and recognition for progress.

The impact of this program is already evident, with some students experiencing significant improvements. For instance, one previously struggling student now maintains perfect attendance and straight A's. While not all transformations are immediate, every mentee has a trusted adult supporting and encouraging them—a transformative experience.

Ms. Johnston epitomizes a life changer whose actions align with their intentions. Throughout her career, Ms. Johnston has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to innovation and student success while juggling multiple roles and responsibilities. Her peers recognize her as a dynamic leader and educator, embodying empathy, love, and compassion in everything she does.