Is this the best high school principal in America?

In October, the principal of Maynard H. Jackson High School in southeast Atlanta will find out if she is the country’s top high school principal.

Stephanie Johnson is one of three finalists for the national title; she already earned the Georgia honor.

Johnson leads a high school formerly considered one of the worst in the state. Hired away from Clayton County in 2012 by Atlanta Public Schools, Johnson found an intown neighborhood on the rise and a dedicated core of parents determined to raise the quality of their local high school.

She made academic rigor a focus, adding AP courses and persuading students to enter the challenging International Baccalaureate diploma program. If parents wanted a new club or after-school activity, she said fine. Jackson High now has 67 extracurriculars.

And she patrols the halls every day, checking in on students and teachers.

To read more about this turnaround effort and Johnson, go the AJC Get Schooled blog.

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