Norma Johnson

Tell us why you became a teacher

My mom loved being a teacher and she inspired me. I always loved studying history & couldn’t figure out why some people thought it was boring. There is nothing boring about America’s story, so I work hard to bring it to life! I believe we must fearlessly study American history & government to comprehend our extraordinary journey & and to see our nation's strength in understanding our collective experience. History's wisdom is our guide to building a just society for all of us, WE THE PEOPLE!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I don’t know how I could choose a single moment from a lifetime of memories in my classroom. I have been humbled to work with so many wonderfully unique minds. I remember the student who, struggling to put it all together, had that “aha” moment where it all made sense, or the student who saw their own story in America's story for the first time, or the graduate who shared they had had voted; teaching has provided me the extraordinary privilege of witnessing learning & growing as it happens!

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I were honored with the $25,000, I would take a cross-country trip around the U.S. to all the places I teach about. I would seek out national parks, Presidential Libraries, and historical sites to learn and better understand the vast array of voices and experiences that make up our collective American story. I would do my best to bring these - the known, the lesser known and yet untold stories - to life for students, hoping to inspire them to keep learning and to keep asking questions!