LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Julie Johansen was nominated by her colleague, Kendra Anderson.

Mrs. Johansen has been a LifeChanger for thousands of students throughout her career. Her hardworking attitude, enthusiasm for education, and dedication are models for the teachers who work for her and the students she encounters daily. She makes Creswell Middle School an excellent place for students and a phenomenal place to work. Her primary focus is always on what is best for students. Throughout her career, she has created unique schedules and opportunities for students struggling in math and reading while providing fun electives and programs for all students. Her work with GATE students in California has transferred to Oregon, and she continues to provide opportunities for TAG students throughout their middle school experience.

Principal Johansen always strives to make CMS the best place for students and staff to succeed. She does a fantastic job of meeting people where they are and helping them open the doors to their next level of success. If you asked any student or staff what stands out the most about Mrs. Johansen, they would answer that it is her school spirit. She builds the school spirit and community through spirit days with dress-up themes and rallies to celebrate. Students and staff look forward to her spirit days or weeks. They build the community of the school and get everyone involved. She takes time each month to acknowledge and reward Students and Citizens of the Month. She holds an Honor Roll celebration each quarter to celebrate students and their achievements. She creates opportunities in students' day to offer music, arts, woodshop, culinary, and many other electives. Mrs. Johansen also strongly supports extracurricular activities and sports for students after school. She works to help students be successful every day, which gives students and staff a chance to be a part of the fun and sense of belonging created within the school community.

Over the past few years, Mrs. Johansen has added several electives and programs to help engage students. Two programs include Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Future Health Professionals (HOSA). Mrs. Johansen was named the Oregon FBLA Administrator of the Year in 2023 for all her hard work with the Creswell Middle School Chapter, which included raising funds for the March of Dimes. This year, she was the team captain for the Creswell Middle School-FBLA Chapter Team for the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Eugene.

"Creswell Middle School was just recognized in late 2024 as the Top School/University Team for the amount we raised. Her work with these programs has allowed students to participate in several important community service activities. In addition, she is the Co-Regional Coordinator for the Rogue Umpqua FBLA Regionals in January," said Anderson. "Her support for FBLA and HOSA has given students in our small community a chance to experience opportunities that only a handful of middle schools in our state get. She is so dedicated to providing these opportunities she even chaperones the overnight trip to Portland with twenty-plus middle school students for the FBLA State Leadership Conference every spring."

Mrs. Johansen's community service activities go beyond the school community. On her own time, she and her family pick a cause each year to give back to their community. This year, they decorated a tree to be auctioned off at the Festival of Trees in Eugene. The Festival of Trees raises money for Cascade Health's charitable programs, including compassionate end-of-life care at the Pete Moore Hospice House. Her compassion and dedication to helping others go beyond the walls of CMS and follow her wherever she goes. She has a way to ignite the passion in the teachers and students in her building to do their best.

"Knowing she is giving her all to make Creswell Middle School a great place to go to school and a great place to work encourages me to do the same. She recognizes when someone is going above and beyond and appreciates the dedication of her staff and the students. This encouragement and acknowledgment have created an environment where everyone works together to help students and the staff have a wonderful experience at CMS," said Anderson.