Kim M. Johnson has served as principal of Austin Elementary School for eight years. She has overseen the dramatic expansion of both academic and social early childhood programs at the school, including the addition of SMART Therapy/Boost Up, Sanford FitKids, and Harmony programs. The implementation of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports framework has provided staff with an important tool for proactively supporting students’ social and behavioral progress. Johnson’s dedication to using data to intelligently drive pedagogical change is demonstrated by the introduction of an RTI model for reading support, where the Leadership Team analyzes student data and provides bi-weekly individualized recommendations to the classroom-level teams. Johnson has also worked to increase family participation in the school community, where 42 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. She has introduced educational, activity-based family nights and added a Family Outreach Counselor to staff to bolster communication with targeted families who previously fell through the gaps. With an open-door, engaged leadership style, Johnson cultivates professional development in staff and works collaboratively to build capacity for shared responsibility for student achievement and growth. Johnson holds a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education from Dakota State University, an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Black Hills State University, and an M.A. in Education Administration from the University of South Dakota.