Superintendent Search 2023-2024

On August 5, 2024, Dr. Bryan Johnson became the 22nd Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. We are enthusiastic about his leadership and vision for the District. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this milestone, including our staff, students, and stakeholders. The Board fully supports Dr. Johnson as we move forward with our mission.

Dr. Bryan Johnson

Dr. Bryan Johnson, a former corporate executive and accomplished K-12 leader, currently holds the position of Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).

For nearly two decades, Dr. Johnson has dedicated much of his career to public education, serving as a teacher, school administrator, and district administrator. At UTC, he provides crucial counsel as the University completes its current strategic plan and leads the development and execution of the 2025-2030 strategic plan. He brings extensive experience in educational leadership, workforce development, business strategy, change management, and collaborative leadership.

Recently, Dr. Johnson served as Chief Transformation Officer for U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc., where he supported the technology and management teams across the enterprise. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, which educates 45,000 students across 78 schools. Under his leadership, Hamilton County Schools became the fastest-improving school district in Tennessee. He is recognized as a visionary leader, known for spearheading bold changes. In his first year as superintendent, he launched the Future Ready Institutes, career-themed academies across high schools, earning recognition from EdWeek as a “Leader to Learn From” in 2020. During the pandemic, Dr. Johnson led a community effort to provide high-speed internet to every economically disadvantaged student household in the district for 10 years, addressing the digital divide.

Dr. Johnson has received numerous accolades for his leadership, including being named the 2021 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents and being a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year. He was also listed as a Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association and recognized as a 2020 Outstanding Young Alumnus by Austin Peay State University. He serves on numerous boards and is actively engaged in the Chattanooga community.

Before his tenure in Chattanooga, Dr. Johnson spent 10 years in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, where he rose to the position of Chief Academic Officer. Under his leadership, the district was ranked as the number one school district for student academic growth for two consecutive years. Dr. Johnson holds degrees from Austin Peay State University, Belmont University, and Trevecca University, where he earned a doctorate in educational leadership. He is married and has two children, one of whom is school-age. 

Videos of Town Hall Meetings 

• Town Hall Meeting Playlist

Frequently Asked Questions

• Frequently Asked Questions

Leadership Profile 

• To review the Superintendent Leadership Profile, please click here. 
  
  
• To review the December 2024 Superintendent Presentation, please click here.

Community Advisory Panel

• Superintendent Search Community Advisory Panel 

Press Releases  

• Press Release 03/05/2024
• Press Release 08/07/2023
• Press Release 080/03/2023
• Press Release 07/05/2023

Media Coverage

• AJC - Atlanta school board taps Tennessee educator as next superintendent
• AJC - Atlanta school chief finalist will stay ‘as long as the board will have me’

• AXIOS - Tennessee educator named sole finalist for APS superintendent

• NBC-TV - Superintendent sole finalist named Tuesday at Atlanta Public Schools 
• NBC-TV - APS announces sole superintendent finalist
• NBC-TV - Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent sole finalist named | Full news conference

• CBS-TV - Sole finalist for Atlanta Public Schools superintendent named

• ABC-TV - APS picks former TN Superintendent of the Year as only finalist to lead district – WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta 

• FOX-TV Tennessee educator named sole finalist for Atlanta Public Schools superintendent job
• FOX-TV Atlanta Public Schools superintendent finalist 

• AOL News - Tennessee educator named sole finalist for Atlanta Public Schools superintendent job 

• Chattanooga TV - Dr. Bryan Johnson named sole finalist for Atlanta Public Schools superintendent | Georgia | local3news.com 

• Rough Draft Atlanta - Next Atlanta Public Schools superintendent hails from Tennessee

• WTVC-TV - Former Hamilton County superintendent named sole finalist to lead Atlanta Public Schools

• WRCB-TV - Dr. Bryan Johnson named sole finalist for Atlanta Public Schools superintendent

• Chattanooga Times Free Press - Atlanta school board taps Bryan Johnson as next superintendent

• Decaturish - Atlanta School Board names superintendent finalist

• These Urban Times - Atlanta Board Of Education Announces Dr. Bryan Johnson as the Atlanta Public Schools Sole Superintendent Finalist

• Hoodline Atlanta- Dr. Bryan Johnson Emerges as Preferred Candidate for Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Role
  
• WABE - Atlanta Public Schools announces sole finalist for superintendent position – WABE

Coverage from Community Engagement 

• Rough Draft Atlanta - APS superintendent finalist to meet public in series of town halls

• WSB-TV - APS superintendent finalist holding series of meet-and-greets with parents, students

• Marietta Daily Journal - Atlanta Public Schools Host Town Halls for Superintendent Finalist

• WANF - Atlanta Public Schools superintendent finalist holding series of town halls with parents, students

• 11Alive - Sole finalist for APS superintendent meets with parents, teachers, and students ahead of vote

• 11Alive - Parents and students hear from APS superintendent sole finalist

• FOX 5 - Community members call on APS superintendent finalist to prioritize equity in schools
  
  
• AJC - Atlanta superintendent finalist promises community he’ll listen and learn

Statement from the Board  

• STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD 06/02/2023