Brandon Johnson wears two JAG hats: JAG Specialist at Hillcrest Education Center in Lebanon and JAG-Missouri Alternative Program Manager.
Since 2017, Johnson has worked with alternative students at Hillcrest through the JAG program. The Hillcrest Education Center builds strong relationships through low student-teacher ratios, serving the social and emotional needs of students. That program has become a model for other JAG-Missouri alternative programs. He will share his JAG knowledge and experience with existing, new, and potential alternative programs.
A native of Lebanon, Johnson serve eight years in the United States Marine Corps from 1992-2000. From 1997-2002, he founded and operated his own construction company. He started his teaching career in Construction Technology in the Waynesville School District from 2002-07. All of those experiences prepared him well to lead a JAG program and work with JAG students.
Johnson and his wife, Tara, who also works in education, have been married for 25 years. Together, they have two daughters and a grandson.
Testimonials
Before I joined JAG, I was lost. JAG provided assistance in pinpointing a career and making steps in order to pursue it. My JAG Specialist motivated me to make connections and to continue my education in the emergency response industry. JAG has changed my life!
JAG has been a life changer.
JAG pushes us out of our comfort zone. It has truly helped me find my voice. I have learned how to voice my opinions the right way – when to speak and when to listen. Without JAG I have no doubt I would still be living my old life. I wish I could have found my voice sooner, but the important thing now is: I have found it, and I will never let it go.
I felt hopeless because no matter what I did, I thought the future I wanted was too far out of reach. I wasn’t smart enough or rich enough to live the life I wanted. Because of this, at the age of 15, I exploded. Everything parents pray their child isn’t doing, I was, or I was trying to. In the midst of this self destruction, the greatest opportunity came up and shook my hand. I went from dropping out to picking up my cap and gown. JAG didn’t save my life, it taught me how to save my own.
