Dr. Karen Johnson was named the Interim CEO of KOSON Schools in July of 2022 after serving as the Director of Curriculum and Accountability for five years. Dr. Johnson joined STEM in 2015 as the first Elementary School Director, stepping in to develop and launch STEM’s Elementary School.
Dr. Karen Johnson grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education and Reading. She moved to Colorado shortly after graduation and began teaching at the fifth-grade level. For 23 years, She continued to teach sixth-grade math and science, along with a large variety of leadership and administrative duties.
She earned her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, focusing on math and science, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Innovation at the University of Colorado, Denver. She also served as the District Science Coordinator for K-12 but realized that her passion for student and teacher development in the areas of STEM was her dream. She is thrilled to be in such a strong community of learners and leaders that live this same passion each and every day.
She is fortunate to have a wealth of experiences that guide her work as she continues to build a comprehensive K-12 program at STEM. The most influential work included opening a K-8 STEM school and watching these young students experience science, technology, engineering and math daily. She has presented at numerous national conferences, consulted and developed an engineering curriculum with the Colorado School of Mines and has numerous publications related to STEM education. These experiences have led her to this wonderful opportunity and she looks forward to continuing to build and develop a strong program that engages and enhances our students’ minds.
She and her husband have raised five kids and have three grandchildren and two border collies. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking in the beautiful Colorado mountains and taking care of her flower gardens. She’s looking forward to a wonderful and exciting school year.
Favorite Starbucks Drink or Snack: Apple Cider
Favorite Snacks: any chocolate
Favorite Places to Eat: anywhere Italian
Favorite Drinks: Ice Tea
Favorite Place to Shop: garden nurseries
Hobbies: gardening, hiking
Favorite Colors: red
