Mr. Johnsons Profile

“Coming here was like moving into a country club,” -Mr. Johnson

Robert Johnson grew up in inner city Detroit, Michigan, and originally wanted to move to
Georgia where majority of his extended family was. He didn't have any relatives in Detroit
besides his parents, so really, he wanted to be closer to his extended family, but during
some events he eventually decided to give another place a try.   

“In high school, when there was an after school activity or game, it would have to be
immediately after school so rival gangs from across town couldn’t come and create fights.”
He said in an interview. Passing his peers in the hallways at school he would hear racial
slurs, police officers were everywhere, and there were even metal detectors at every
entrance and exit, “They made us go through metal detectors before entering school most
days, which meant multiple people would end up throwing things out of their pockets and
even running the opposite way. Some people even kept blades in their mouths.” He
explained later on. Johnson ultimately went to a “99% african american school,” so seeing
this violent place for most of his life then coming to a more public community everyday,
was much different than going to a school where kids could walk in and out whenever,
keep anything in your bags, coat pockets, and other clothing without being questioned or
searched, and being trusted to do really whatever he or she wanted. “Coming here was
like moving into a country club.” Johnson continued.  

He enjoys his job here because he likes the safe community it brings. The culture change
was something he had difficulty adapting to but eventually got used to the atmosphere of
Kennedy. “I was always seen as the big, scary, tough looking guy..,” for enforcing the rules
to the students. Everybody needs a little discipline and enforcing that shouldn't make
someone the ‘bad guy’. At first he really didn't feel accepted but eventually learned that it
was easier than he thought. Over time he started to fit in more to the flow of kennedy as a
school, it's who he was as a person. He was patient with the students and gave himself a
fair shot. He believes kids need to grow up in a safe environment and in his eyes that's
what Kennedy is. It might have been challenging on some occasions but he wouldn’t
change it for anything.