Ms. Johnston was born and raised in Northern California. She attended San Diego State University where she majored in Art and finished her studies at California College of Arts and Crafts. She began teaching art in her own children's classrooms and then began teaching after school art programs. She landed her first full time teaching job in 2001 where she created her own art progarm for pre-k - 8th graders and started an after school program as well. After 18 years at Queen of all Saints she packed up her bags to move to Portland to be closer to her Oregon family members. She is delighted to start again in a new state and a new school very similar to the one she left in California! Three things about Ms. J you would never know...she was an elephant docent at the Oakland Zoo, she can play the clarinet, and she was a professional clown!