CRESTVIEW — Long-time Okaloosa County educator Andy Johnson has more than one school to monitor as coordinator of safe schools, health and athletics, but the focus differs from his 30-plus-year career at three north county schools.
His objectives since settling in his new role Dec. 11 are as follows:
•Ensure the county's schools have sound crisis plans, with procedures for fire drills, severe weather and lockdown drills suited for each campus and student population.
•Oversee student disciplinary policy, particularly in cases of extended suspension or expulsion, which require placing the student in an alternative education program such as internet-based or charter schools.
•Gather data from student health surveys to apply for grants that could pay for drug or alcohol abuse awareness campaigns.
•Help the Okaloosa County Health Department provide timely health alerts to schools.
•Assure school athletic programs comply with the Florida High School Athletics Association. Each high school must adhere to the FHSAA's rules and regulations, particularly concerning recruitment and student transfers.
Johnson served at Baker School for almost 26 years, working his way from teaching social studies to becoming a certified school counselor, assistant principal and then principal in 1997.
He left Baker to become principal of Crestview High School in 2002 before retiring five years later.
Following his retirement, Johnson served as Holt Academy's director for more than four years.
He said he welcomed the call when newly elected school superintendent Mary Beth Jackson asked him to join the school system again.
"I found out that I had left before I wanted to," Johnson said. "When Mrs. Jackson asked me if I would be interested in coming back to work in the school system, to say I was excited was an understatement."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Long-time educator takes new role in school system